Working Life as an Independent Freelance Film Colorist

What it’s actually like to work as an indie colorist

In part two of our conversation, Colorist and Mixing Light CEO Patrick Inhofer interviews me, freelance colorist Kali Bateman, CSI and my husband and sound engineer, Sam Lowe, to explore the intricacies of working life in color grading and audio mixing.

We discuss the decision-making process behind choosing the right tools for specific jobs, the logistics of taking your gear on-site, and the importance of effective client communication.

The challenges and opportunities of freelance grading

Working as an independent colorist presents different challenges compared to working for a facility, many of which have nothing to do with coloring. Still, it opens you up to opportunities that would not come by often.

Our conversation uncovered insights into a variety of topics surrounding working as freelancers that are often not spoken about. It’s also striking how many similarities there are between working as a sound engineer and as a film colorist.