Color Grading The Film/Digital Hybrid Look
Every now and then, there’s a chance to combine the strengths of digital and film aesthetics, creating a look that serves its purpose while blending the best of both worlds.
This was the case for a recently released music video by Belinda, a Spanish-Mexican singer. When I first saw the offline cut from director Salomon Simhon, I noticed a range of possibilities for using color to shape the video. We could have taken it in a dark, moody direction or, given the striking visuals, opted for a vibrant, fashion-forward look. After discussing with Salomon, we decided that a more vibrant approach would work best.
Belinda’s skin tone was a key focus—it has an almost porcelain quality. The challenge was to add color and texture to the video while keeping her skin clear and natural. This led us to a film/digital hybrid look. The trick was finding the right balance: bringing vibrancy to the surrounding areas while maintaining her natural appearance. It was a process of fine-tuning, using subtle power windows and adjusting contrast levels to achieve a filmic look without losing important details. We also softened the image in certain areas to maintain texture without sacrificing clarity.
DP Rēy Zitrø’s careful control of the lighting gave me the flexibility to refine the brightness and shadows into the hybrid style we were aiming for. We avoided heavy grain except in a few key scenes where it added to the look. The same goes for saturation, particularly in the grave scene where we leaned into a 90s fashion-inspired aesthetic.
Color grading this music video was an interesting challenge, striking a balance between digital sharpness and the timeless feel of film. By carefully combining these elements, we created a video that captures Belinda’s unique presence while supporting the artistic direction of Salomon Simhon and the lighting choices of Rēy Zitrø. The result is a piece that feels both fresh and timeless, blending the best of both mediums.
