SUMMER LOOK ACADEMY
2021
CLASS START
August 9, 2021
TIME
Four Weeks
THIS CLASS IS FOR
Advanced
COST
$349
This is the third installment of the most advanced look development training for professional colorists available today. With this training, we are creating a new generation of colorists who grow into professionals' ranks by acquiring necessary skills in a new and alternative way.
About
Colour Grading is traditionally acquired by transferring skills from Senior Colorist to his/her Assistant. Usually, the path to a professional colorist job would lead from a junior or assistant position at a post-production company. Depending on a person’s ability and sheer chance, one would gradually progress and grow into a Senior Colorist Position.
However, this cycle of new talent development has now become entirely obsolete. Post-Production companies have gradually stopped hiring junior staff, and this practice has now wholly ground to a halt.
Potentially this poses a severe issue for the entire industry. As the art and science of Color Grading are advancing faster than ever before, so grows the demand for skilled and experienced professionals. But if we do not have a clear path for skills development, the question is, how are we going to continue growth and meet up that demand.
We need to help a new generation of colorists grow into professionals’ ranks by acquiring necessary skills in a new and alternative way.
What you will learn
At the end of this four-week training program, participants will complete a grade of four scenes from the movie ‘Klecha,’ directed by Jacek Gwizdala and shot by Robert Lis. Participants will learn intricate details and methodology for look design and how to tell the story through correct look design. In addition, participants will learn all necessary skills for look matching, secondaries, adaptation of look for cinema, HDR and SDR screens and master delivery. This is a unique opportunity to learn the end-to-end feature film color grading process using footage from the previously released movie.
PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS:
- WEEK 1 – No limits – Opening sequence. How to create a visually strong and most impactful look for the most important part of the movie that is supposed the grab attention from the audience.
- WEEK 2 – How to Create 60’s TV news look. Authentic look and feel of the old TV in order to assist storytelling. Degrading image without losing quality.
- WEEK 3 – How to create your own Film Emulation LUT using test charts shot and Kodak Vision 3 50D
- WEEK 4 – How to create your own Film Emulation LUT using the process of film out and scan back to a film negative and film print stocks
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE
We recommend this course to anyone interested in learning skills previously only taught by senior colorists inside post-production companies. This includes:
- Colorists who wish to progress their career and be able to take senior roles inside post-production companies
- Colorists who wish to excel at the creative and artistic part of color grading job
- Creators who want to expand their skills beyond simple look creation and learn what it takes to deliver production to the highest image standards.
By completing this course participants will
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Study work of world's renowned cinematographers
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Learn new skills and techniques for look design and feature film grading
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Attend a guest lecture by leading cinematographers, colorists and color scientist
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Complete four practical assignments
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Share their work with a group of passionate and supportive attendees.
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Complete final assignment as an entry for the best piece of SLA 2021 competition
GUEST LECTURES

Ed Lachman, ASC
A two-time Oscar-nominated American Director of Photography, and frequent collaborator with director Todd Haynes. Lachman’s credits include Carol, Far from Heaven, The Virgin Suicides, Erin Brockovich and Wonderstruck. 2016 Nominee Oscar, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Nominee BAFTA Film Award, Best Cinematography, Nominee ASC Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases and Winner Golden Frog, Main Competition Carol, 2003 Nominee Oscar, Best Cinematography, Nominee, ASC Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases, Nominee Golden Frog, Winner Silver Frog, Far from Heaven, 2011 Nominee Primetime Emmy, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie, Mildred Pierce, 2017 Winner ASC, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012 Nominee ASC Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Motion Picture/Miniseries Television, Mildred Pierce, Episode: “Mildred Pierce: Part Five”, 2017 Nominee Golden Frog, Main Competition, Wonderstruck, 2007 Winner Bronze Frog, Nominee Golden Frog, Main Competition, I’m Not There
Nat Jencks - Supervising Colorist Postworks NYC
A grading session with Nat Jenks. Did you ever want to see a senior colorist in action and watch him/her over the shoulder and see how they work?
Nat has worked in post-production for more than 25 years, working in the fields of VFX, Title Design, and Editorial prior to focusing on his work as a colorist for the last 15 years. His work ranges from studio features to indies, episodic series, commercials and music videos.
Recent projects include the Cinematography Emmy award-winning series Russian Doll and Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming Let Them All Talk. Music videos have included collaborations with The Dirty Projectors, Sigur Ros, MGMT, The Polyphonic Spree, Jenny Lewis and more. Commercials include spots for Nike, Google, Sony, BMW, and Gap.
Nat has been on the frontline of many emerging technologies, from DV to DI, working on some of the first films to use FCP for 35mm film workflow, and designing and implementing the digital workflow for Steven Soderbergh’s CHE, the first large feature film shot on the RED camera.
Nat has a longstanding background in photography, art, and computer science with a degree in Technology and Art from Oberlin College. He has taught classes on Color and VFX, guest lectured at SVA, Columbia, Local 700 Editors Guild, SMPTE as well as other institutions, and is a member of the Editors Guild and the Visual Effects Society (VES).
Matthew Thomlinson, Color Scientist HARBOR
Matthew is one of the world’s leading color scientists and in his 25 years long career he has worked on movies like: “Suicide Squad”, “Skyfall”, “The Avengers”, “Matrix: Revolutions”, “Air Force One”, “Once Upon a Time and Hollywood”, Louis Leterrier’s “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance”, Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman”, Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman.”
Weekly Schedule
Monday:
FILM THEORY
Tuesday:
REMOTE CLASSROOM
Wednesday:
TECHNIQUES
Thursday:
ASSIGNMENTS
Friday:
REVIEW
Final Assignment:
CONTEST
MODULE 1
FILM THEORY/SELF STUDY
Mondays are dedicated to film theory. Each week you will be required to study one director and one cinematographer, their work, style and approach to color.
MODULE 2
REMOTE CLASSROOM / LIVE STREAM
Every Tuesday 10am-12pm we will attend live remote classroom training covering curriculum for the week and defining assignments.
MODULE 3
TECHNIQUES / SELF STUDY
Wednesdays are dedicated to self-study of techniques and work on assignments.
MODULE 4
ASSIGNMENTS DELIVERY
Thursdays are deadline for delivery of assignments.
MODULE 5
ASSIGNMENTS REVIEW
Friday morning 10 am – 12pm we will be reviewing assignments, questions and answers and office hours
Meet your instructor

Dado Valentic
Dado is a world-renowned color scientist who has trained and consulted Google, YouTube, Dolby, WB Studios, Univision, Comedy Central, HBO, CBS, Adobe, Activision, and NBC Universal, Electronic Arts, Disney just to name a few. His work on the series Marco Polo for Netflix is considered one of the earliest examples of proper HDR workflows in the industry.
Dado not only works in the industry but also maintains a vast training program and online community. His training was developed on the initiative of the British Film Institute and is now considered the reference on the topics covered.
Dado Valentic has lectured at major Film Educational Institutions such as London International Film School, NY Film Academy, UPGrade Berlin, International Colorist Academy, Moscow International Film School, Dutch Nation Film and Television School, Australian National Film School, SAE Oxford, Glasgow University, Reducation and many more.
Our Method of Teaching
CREATE ALONGSIDE EXPERTS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK
As a part of your class, you will receive scheduled office hours with your instructor to share progress and receive personalized feedback


STAY ON TRACK WITH AN EFFECTIVE SCHEDULE
Class schedule is adapted to your busy schedule. Carefully designed training program that accelerates your growth through live stream instructions, video lessons, assignments, feedback sessions scheduled over a period of two weeks
CONNECT WITH AN INSPIRING GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS
You will join an intimate group of professionals that are passionate about their craft as much as you are. Share progress, tips and make friends from around the world.


EARN INDUSTRY-WIDE RECOGNISED CERTIFICATION
Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate of completion, by one of the most regarded professional training companies in the world.
GET DISCOUNTS ON MOST IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS AND PLUGINS
We work alongside leading software manufacturers to give you access to some of the best applications and plugins. Save on tools that you need.

Ready to join the class?
- Complete four assignments
- Drastically improve your color grading skills
- Learn from industry leading specialists
- Join exclusive colorist community
- Lifetime access