Post-Production Case Study: Colour Grading for Live Sunset Performance by Mathias Coquoz
Client: Mathias Coquoz (Swiss musician and composer)
Location: Colour grading studio in London
Date: October 2024
Project: Colour grading and noise reduction for a 33-minute live music performance video
A frame from the production.
The Brief
Mathias Coquoz approached us with an ambitious project: a live music performance filmed at sunset with multiple cameras.
The 33-minute piece featured a blend of static, dynamic, and aerial shots, shifting from golden-hour tones to nighttime, all while maintaining seamless continuity.
Mathias needed the performance to exude warmth and vibrancy, naturally transitioning as dusk fell. The challenges included blending footage from different camera sources—some pre-coloured—and minimizing noise as the evening darkened.
Pre-Production & Initial Collaboration
Mathias's vision was clear from the outset: he wanted the footage to emulate a warm, filmic quality, akin to references from renowned performances such as Fred again's rooftop sessions.
We collaborated with Mathias through emails and online discussions, detailing the workflow and finalising the grading plan.
Hannah, our post-production and colour grading specialist, led the project. Hannah’s delivered huge projects for us including our recent production for AlTi Global and what we’d consider our best brand film of the years with Heligan Gardens.
After reviewing the footage and securing Mathias’s notes, we prepped the timeline by converting clips into ProRes 422 and creating an EDL for seamless integration.
The Grading Process
With Mathias's reference videos and detailed notes in hand, Hannah set to work on the following key tasks:
Creating a Warm, Filmic Tone: To reflect the glow of sunset and the ambient light changes, we used subtle colour grading that enriched skin tones and deepened the greens and blues in the landscape.
Noise Reduction: As the recording transitioned to nighttime, noise naturally increased. We applied targeted noise reduction, preserving detail while ensuring that the blacks remained deep but noise-free.
Matching Multiple Takes: The first 10-15 minutes of footage featured blended takes from two sunset sessions. Careful grading adjustments ensured seamless visual cohesion between these takes.
GoPro and Drone Integration: These sources, initially shot in Rec709, needed extra attention to match the main footage. A touch of filmic texture smoothed out the digital feel and balanced the colour differences.
Sky Enhancements: For specific GoPro shots, sky replacements were applied to enhance continuity and visual appeal, maintaining the essence of the sunset throughout.
Production Day & Initial Feedback
Hannah kicked thing off by sharing the initial graded stills from the edit, we do this on every production to help the client understand how the film is looking right from the start.
Over this first round of feedback its really important for prompt and specific feedback— for this production there was a focusing on lifting blacks, refining sky brightness, and minor tweaks to transition shots.
By incorporating these notes, we ensured that each section met the aesthetic he envisioned.
Final Adjustments & Challenges
As with any complex project, a few challenges emerged. Certain GoPro footage had blown-out sky areas, and some scenes required subtle brightness adjustments to match the tone.
Our team implemented solutions like sky replacements and tailored light balancing to maintain the overall narrative of the sunset to nighttime shift.
The Result
The final product was a high-resolution 4K ProRes export that seamlessly captured the mood of the performance.
The sunset’s warmth flowed naturally into the night, with each camera's footage harmonised through cohesive grading. Mathias praised the film’s rich colours, fluid transitions, and noise-free dark scenes.
Wrapping Up
Working on this project reminded us of the magic of collaboration and technical artistry. The performance video now stands ready for festival screenings, showcasing a seamless blend of visual storytelling that enhances Mathias's music.
If you’re seeking expert colour grading in London for live performances or cinematic projects, reach out to us—we’ll be stoked to bring your project to life.
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