Problems grading BMCC footage

[Glenn Sakatch]

Part of your problem is the way the footage is shot. (lens use)
Your first two optimal examples have a much stronger film look, in part because of the depth of field achieved through the lens. Your new shots have pretty much everything in focus, except #3. Part of that out of focus imagery is causing some of the “haze” your are describing.

Second thing, look at either of the first two pictures that you are trying to achieve. What is the blackest item in the picture? The sunglasses? the black shirt? the shadows of the hairline? Now how dark do you think those would register on a waveform?

Now look at the darkest parts of your shots…ask yourself the same questions. Your blacks are way deeper than those of the shots you are trying to recreate. This is going to help you achieve the washed out look.

Comparing your third optimal shot to the first two is not fair. The looks between those shots is so different I wouldn’t try to compare them. More saturation, more vibrant colours, more contrast ratio.

If those 3 shots appeared in a clip, in that order, I would assume someone would ask to have the third clip tweaked to match the first two.

Glenn

[Jp Pelc]

Glenn nailed it. The deep DoF is too late to change, but raising the blacks should take you pretty far in achieving your desired look.