The #1 factor to determine prior to grading an HDR show

When asked if he had any tips for those undertaking Dolby Vision HDR grading for the very first time, Siggy Firstl, senior colorist at Company 3, gives the following piece of advice:

“Understand the look [that] the filmmakers are wanting and establish early on the sort of bright[ness] levels, how far you want to push the highlights… That’s probably […] the number one thing to establish before you even start doing the creative color… That will change the look of the show and also, if you say for instance go too bright in establishing that light and then you get into coloring, it can put a lot of extra work on you if you’re having to sort of force the highlights down the whole time.”