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Colourist

Grades picture for final look in DI/finishing in UK post facilities — hours follow delivery more than unit call.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Grade to DoP/Director brief
• Manage show LUTs and versions
• Deliverables for finishing
• QC for colour

Reports to

Director / DoP / Post Producer as deal

Works with

Online Editor, VFX, Editor, DI producer

Career path

Assistant Editor / junior grade → Colourist

Day to day

Balance shots; match cameras; creative grade with Director/DoP; deliver CDLs/LUTs/masters as required.

Call times

Facility/office hours more than unit call (often ~09:00–18:00) with late nights near picture lock and delivery. Set visits follow shoot calls.

What to wear

Smart-casual in facility; quiet dark clothing in grade/mix theatres; blacks if visiting set.

Tools & kit

Facility workstations; personal headphones/SSD as preferred; colour-accurate monitor where provided.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• DaVinci Resolve
• Baselight
• Frame.io
• AI denoise tools under facility licence only
• Avid Media Composer / Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve
• Pro Tools / Nuendo (sound)
• Frame.io / PIX / ClearView
• ChatGPT for draft note summaries (Editor verifies)

Related roles

Editor, Online Editor

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