Colour Grading & Visual Style

During the editing stage, colour grading played an important role in creating a consistent visual style and reinforcing the emotional tone of my music video. Instead of leaving the footage in its original form, I adjusted the colours to match the dark, cinematic aesthetic planned in my moodboard.

A key decision was the use of a restricted colour palette. Cooler tones such as blue and grey were applied to most scenes to represent isolation, emotional detachment, and the weight of the character’s past. These tones helped create a cold and distant atmosphere, which aligns with the overall theme of internal conflict.

In contrast, warmer tones were used selectively in certain moments, particularly in scenes involving softer lighting. These warmer colours, such as subtle yellow and amber, were used to suggest reflection, memory, or remaining emotional warmth. The contrast between warm and cool tones helped visually highlight different emotional states within the video.

I also focused on maintaining a low-key visual style, where darker areas are preserved and not overly brightened. This allowed shadows to remain visible and supported the chiaroscuro lighting used during filming. By keeping parts of the frame in darkness, the visuals feel more controlled and cinematic.

Consistency was an important part of the process. I ensured that all clips followed a similar tone and style so that the video did not feel visually disconnected. Even though different scenes were filmed in different locations and lighting conditions, colour grading helped unify them into one cohesive look.

Overall, the colour grading and visual style were carefully adjusted to support the mood, themes, and symbolism of the music video. This process allowed the final video to feel visually polished and aligned with the original aesthetic planning.

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