The Cult of Personality

We’ve just added a new entry to the misinformation “dossier”. It demanded a new category of its own: “The Cult of Personality”.

The gaslighting, the mangling of tech specs, the refusal to consult the standards documents, and the scapegoating of manufacturers were all bad enough; but the monetization just might be the worst!

Category 8: The Cult of Personality

Cullen Kelly (Aug 2025) – Monetization of Misinformation

Affiliation: Colorist, Trainer, Entrepreneur (DCTLs, Masterclasses, Genesis Plugin)

• The Action: Publicly praises Steve Yedlin’s “Debunking HDR” demo and methodology, lauding him as a “filmmaking rebel” who overturns “dogma or convention.” Uses this endorsement to announce Yedlin’s contribution of a film grain emulation to Kelly’s commercial Genesis plugin.

Quote:

“Steve is a filmmaking rebel. He DGAF about the common rhetoric of the industry — his drive for the exact image he wants overtakes any dogma or convention. That’s why his Display Prep Demo, Resolution Demo, and recent Debunking HDR Demo have made such waves, and that’s why his work looks so damn good.” Cullen Kelly

• The Reality: Kelly performs a masterful sleight of hand, reframing Yedlin’s documented egregious errors as virtuous iconoclasm. The “dogma” he dismisses is the shared lexicon that enables the entire industry to function.
• The Irony: Kelly has recently reversed his long-held positions to align with Yedlin:
• On Film Grain: Just two years ago, Kelly publicly stated he was “done with” film grain (“I would be very happy to never see film grain again.”). He now markets it as a key feature upon Yedlin’s involvement.
• On HDR: Kelly was once a prominent proponent of HDR. Since associating with Yedlin, he parrots his anti-HDR talking points.
• The Impact: This isn’t advocacy; it’s opportunism. Kelly’s principles shift to align with the influencers he can commercialize. 
• Status: Active promotion and commercialization.

Yedlin’s Errors Are Not “Rebellion”:

• Claiming Rec.2100 = ST 2084 isn’t bucking the system. It’s like mistaking a car for an engine.
• Comparing BT.1886 to PQ at 8-bit isn’t iconoclastic; it’s intellectually dishonest.
• Calling HLG “just yet another SDR colorspace” isn’t ignoring convention; it’s an outright falsehood.