Major Project: Interview Colour Grade Research

What Colour Grading Style should DownStage's Interviews have?

As mentioned in my research into Mockumentaries, it appears that some Mockumentaries have a specific and unique style i.e. through exposure, focusing, wide and narrow angles, etc. Nonetheless, it appears that some Mockumentaries emphasise this style within post-production by also giving their interviews a unique colour grade, whilst their actuality footage tends to remain quite natural-looking.

Life and Death Row

Although this isn't a Mockumentary, Life and Death Row is a successful BBC documentary that follows the lives of those whom are in prison and are on the list for execution. Returning recently for it's second series, I'm using this as an example to show how some documentaries almost provide a different perception of viewing when we are introduced to interviews. As you can see from the two images below, post-production has provided a more enhanced, colour contrast in the image - clearly showing that it has been enhanced and reducing the idea of this naturalistic lighting. Programs such as this may do this purely to reflect on the narrative - the enhancement in auditions may make the auditionee seem more emotive as the colours seem harsher, thus making each interview seem effective.

As you can see, the whites have been slightly enhanced,
making the image seem slightly less natural however working
effectively to convey the convict's emotions.

As for this image, the female's skin tone contrasts against the background
image, helping to emphasise and enhance her skin tone more. This too
is a minor colour correction however it helps to add to the emotions
during her interview, as she talks about how her husband was murdered.

Such perception is what I am aiming to include during the post-production of DownStage - I want to add these brief colour enhancements purely to emphasise this different perception that this is now an interview and no longer actuality. Likewise, this helps to remind the audience that this is a documentary by doing so.

Modern Family

The nearest example I can find in which a Mockumentary has enhanced interviews would be Modern Family.  As you can see in the images below, there is a slight colour correction which generally enhances all of the colours within the interview, generally helping to create a brighter atmosphere which typically contradicts amongst some of the interviews which you'll see in the series. This too is similar to what I am aiming to do - the corrections are very subtle however it helps to create a different viewing perspective compared to the actuality which is mostly seen, helping to add some diversity to the series.

All the colours generally seem brighter than you would expect.This helps
to reflect on the character's interview - this example the lighting contradicts against the character,
helping to add to the humour of the scene.

Likewise to the previous image - the colours are slightly enhanced in order to juxtapose
against the characters mood.

Therefore, this slight colour enhancement will be introduced to some of the interviews for DownStage when appropriate, mainly so that it creates a different perception however likewise to Modern Family, by generally brightening the shot, it may contradict against one of the interviewees i.e. brighter colours will contradict Chantelle as she moans about the crew being hungover after the party.