Nirmal Sharma is our Senior Colorist at FutureWorks, specialising in DI (digital imaging) coloring. We sat down with him to talk about his expertise and his journey to becoming a colorist.
How did you get into DI color grading?
My first job in post-production was in 2009 when I worked as an editor and finishing artist. It was a really great experience, but my attention shifted towards DI coloring. It's very rewarding to be able to change emotions and create fine-tuned visuals using color. So I began to try out software such as DaVinci Resolve, Baselight, and Assimilate Scratch to build my skills.
What do you work on, day-to-day?
I have a broad scope of projects, from films to episodics to smaller indie productions. I also work on music videos, where color grading and visual impact largely affect the final result. I enjoy the individual challenges that come with each type of project, which as a result, allow me to ensure creative storytelling, set the mood, and nail consistency.
Tell us about how color impacts the audience's perception of content.
Color hugely changes the audience's perception of the mood and story. We all have subconscious associations attaching mood to colour. But something that non-colorists might overlook is the symbolism of colors depending on the audience's cultural and societal background.
How do you approach this in your projects?
At FutureWorks, we work on a lot of Bollywood projects, for example. As a studio, we use bold-hued colors when there's a celebration because that resonates with the audience. Music videos in particular rely on color to portray the emotions around the song, so heavy color grading is needed to convey the desired message correctly.
What projects have you worked on recently?
I've been doing a lot of work with director of photography Madhu Neelakandan, on the films Malaikottai Vaaliban and Merry Christmas. The projects differed in brief, with Malaikottai Vaaliban requiring a contrasting color palette, and Merry Christmas requiring a more delicate, emotional coloring.
Working with Neelakandan was an essential part of the process that allowed us to finetune the final product. We discussed color, texture, and light and how the three influence the film's moods. Ultimately, this led to the final products being aligned with the director's vision and enhanced storytelling in the final grades.
How do you streamline creative collaboration with other production members?
I enjoy working with producers and directors of photography so that we can carefully combine our ideas to make the most effective end product. However, colorists must be respectful of the creative process of others – everyone's ideas are valid, and I try not to overlook anyone's creative ideation, so that we all have our own ideas in the result.
What is the FutureWorks grading suite like?
I'm lucky to work in a state-of-the-art grading suite, including the latest technology and a talented team to support. Our technicians ensure everything is running smoothly so that we can continue to create efficiently. Grading on Baselight has also been essential in delivering consistently high-quality results.
Tell us about the highest point of your career.
Working with FutureWorks has allowed me to elevate my career opportunities and push the boundaries of my creativity. The studio has given me the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects and bring my innovative ideas to the table. It's rewarding to build relationships with like-minded people in the creative industry, and these collaborations have strongly impacted my growth and skillset.
Do you have any advice for people aspiring to get into color grading?
I would say to focus on both technical and storytelling skills, as both are just as important as each other. Putting time into practical tasks is great, but you should also broaden your cultural knowledge and watch films and television shows to see how they use color grading to influence the narrative and mood of the story. Staying updated on the latest tools and techniques is crucial to make sure you are consistently delivering high-quality content. And most importantly – collaborate with experienced professionals to share and grow from ideas.
Want to join Nirmal in a role on the FutureWorks team? Check out their careers page for current vacancies.