Interview with Colorist Billy Hobson from Harbor Picture Company

A conversation about collaboration, mentorship, and serving the story

In this interview, senior colorist Billy Hobson from Harbor shares his experiences grading across feature film, documentary, and commercials. He covers why collaboration and workflow mastery are essential, and how mentorship and the right tools shape a colorist’s growth.

When speaking with Billy, you get a glimpse of what it must be like to be a client in one of his color sessions. He’s charming, well-spoken, funny—an absolute delight. It’s clear he’s one of those colorists who isn’t just technically and creatively experienced, but also possesses that extra magic quality of natural people skills that the best colorists use to run a room with everyone on the same page, moving on schedule, and with a sense that they’re in safe hands.

Billy’s portfolio is remarkably diverse, spanning everything from The Peanut Butter Falcon to Venom, from Super Bowl commercials to music videos. What stands out isn’t just the range—it’s the consistent quality and the clear sense that every project, regardless of format, receives the same thoughtful approach to storytelling through color.

“Every image wants to be something…there’s always that pocket that every image wants to lie in. If you go too far left or right, then it just feels off.”

Billy Hobson, Colorist, Harbor Picture Company

Key takeaways from this Insight

In this interview, you should learn:

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