How Creative uses DaVinci Resolve Studio to create a glamorous look in 'Selling Sunset' (Netflix)

Con el objetivo de crear una apariencia singular para la segunda temporada de la glamurosa producción de Netflix ‘Selling Sunset’, el coproductor ejecutivo Joe Eckardt (Unbreakable Post) y el colorista Aleks Ver (How Creative) confiaron en DaVinci Resolve Studio (Blackmagic Design) para una amplia variedad de tareas.

Eckardt, who has been part of the project since the first season, wanted to develop a simple post-production process. “My goal was to complete the program and deliver it without having to resort to third parties,” says Eckardt. “Netflix demonstrated its support by allowing us to modify our work dynamics as necessary, depending on the complexity of the program and the schedule.”

After editing an episode, Eckardt, who also provided a final version, was in charge of putting together the project in DaVinci Resolve Studio and sending it to Ver for grading. The colorist, who has participated in the series since the beginning, modified his processes until achieving a more advanced and complete aesthetic through different chromatic adjustments. “In the first season we only used the SDR format,” says Ver. “For the fourth and fifth seasons, we went to the Dolby Vision HDR and we created our workflow in DaVinci Resolve using an ACEScct function, both when processing the various types of image files we received, as well as to increase efficiency in the delivery process of the IMF packages.”

The dazzling aesthetics of Selling Sunset "I developed a hook-shaped curve with a luminance point (LUM) of 80% and a highlight dimming of 100%, with a boost in the mid-high section of the image, without losing information," adds Ver. "We are using a permanent fixed node structure. Each scene has a unique group that allows me and my assistant (Alexandra Makarenko) to move color changes quickly through the entire group when it is necessary to modify the tone to be warmer or colder, or increase or decrease the luminosity.” See also used the OpenFX ‘Texture Highlight’ effect integrated into DaVinci Resolve Studio when it comes to fading skin tone in scenes.

Highlight treatment

The main challenge is learning to work with the intense light of Southern California. “Interviews, drone shots, and indoor scenes where there are bright lights coming through the windows are the most time-consuming,” Ver continues. “In this case, what I do is compress the lights overall and then use the highlights tool at -100 and a minimum luminance dimming on the 'Specific Colors' panel to reduce the brightness of objects as necessary.

Once the graded files are returned to Eckardt, he applies a noise reduction in all shots. “Applying a series of adjustments to reduce noise on approximately 900 shots per episode is extremely time-consuming, but it is truly worth it to get an amazing looking episode,” Eckardt added. “This is what gives the series an unmatched, luminous and dazzling aesthetic, also thanks to Alek's work, of course.”

As for the final shots, Ryan Moser, the show's visual effects artist, used the Fusion tools DaVinci Resolve Studio when making edits, such as removing elements from an image.

Both Ver and Eckardt feel gratified with the final quality of the images and the impact it has on viewers and other filmmakers. “One of the things I enjoy most is when other programs come to us for grading like Selling Sunset. It's great to know that other producers have taken note of our work and the quality of the program itself and want to achieve similar results in their projects,” concludes Eckardt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9zkEqVoiv0