February 24, 2019 – Recently I watched the Israeli show Hostages with the wonderful Ayelet Zurer (Munich, Daredevil). The show looked “flat,” washed out. In my opinion, it needed more contrast and color saturation.
Today’s editing programs (Avid, Adobe Premiere, Apple’s Final Cut Pro) have easy-to-use video filters and plugins. Therefore, with the tools available, there’s no excuse for any movie or show to look flat or washed out (unless it’s intentional).
Using Final Cut Pro, I played with 44 seconds of the first episode of Hostages. See what you think. Which option do you like most? The yellow- and blue-toned versions took some time. The others were quick to do.
The Show’s Original Look
It looks even flatter on TV than on a computer.
Higher Contrast and Darker
Higher Color Saturation
Higher Color Saturation, Higher Contrast, and Darker
If you went even higher in saturation, you’d end up with something like CSI: Miami, which might be the most highly saturated show ever on TV.
Yellow Tones, Higher Contrast
I’m noticing some yellow tones, sort of like this, in Season 3 of HBO’s True Detective.
Blue Tones, Higher Contrast
This blue-tone effect is often employed by director Michael Mann, in such films as Heat, Miami Vice, The Insider, and Collateral.
Original
Higher Contrast, Darker
Higher Color Saturation
Higher Color Saturation, Higher Contrast, Darker
Yellow Tones, Higher Contrast
Blue Tones, Higher Contrast (Michael-Mann-ish)