70’s Horror Colour

[Richard Herd]

There are three tonalities to manipulate:
Dark colors;
Mid range;
high lites.

Generally speaking, keep orange in the mids and cyan in the highlites. The darks seem straight forward.

[T. Payton]

That is a beautiful retro look. Flat, compressed highlights and shadows, slightly warm. Lots of grain. However, there is a lot more to this than dialing in the color in post. In fact the color treatment is just icing on a well constructed cake.

I think if you want to try to get the look and feel there are a number of things to consider how they originally shoot the film.

– Lens
– Film Stock
– Processing Technique
– Makeup
– Lighting (the harsh lighting of the chalkboard shot with Dustin Hoffman is classic)

I would research those aspects and then start shooting some tests. Work with your DP and perhaps recreate a shot or two in that film you noted. Also to study what is happening with the color grade, grab some of those still frames, balance the color and try to make them “match” what is coming from your camera. You’ll learn a lot about the characteristics of the color.

I hope this helps!

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque

[Anthony Winson]

Thanks for the comments Richard and T. Payton.

here is a link of some screep grabs of what I’ve come up with.
https://www.mrstitchfilms.co.uk/#!dead-county

Anthony

http://www.mrstitchfilms.co.uk

[T. Payton]

Great job! You nailed it with the shot of the fellow in front of the tunnel. Your opening title, especially using off yellow type is perfect.

I would be careful to try to not do any effects or motion graphics that wouldn’t have been possible back in the 70’s as to help sell the look and feel of the film.

——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque