Elevating Storytelling Through Color
Shaping atmosphere, emotion, and identity through color.
Showreel
Portfolio
Here you will find a curated selection of my color grading work
Short Film – Shot on RED
Directed by: Gustavo Watanabe
Tomorrow’s Walk is a film about emotional overload, the unsaid, and the difficulty of communication. It portrays a person who had to grow up too fast and sacrifice their own interests to care for loved ones, preferring to implode rather than worry them. The film aims to depict this in a daily, observational manner, as if we were simply witnessing these two days unfold.
University Project – Shot on Sony
A speculative commercial envisioned for an Apple Christmas campaign, focusing on storytelling and the connection the brand cultivates.
Centered on an emotional narrative, we built a visual look based on distance and affection, starting with an atmosphere of urban isolation that is gradually invaded by the amber warmth of digital connection.
University Project – Shot on Sony
A speculative commercial focusing on the delivery speed that positions the Amazon brand.
The look is clean and vibrant, featuring saturated colors and naturalistic lighting. This creates a ‘normal’ aesthetic that makes the absurd appearance [of the delivery] even funnier.
Fashion Film – Shot on Sony
The atmosphere is one of nostalgia, an ode to childhood and the analog aesthetic of a cherished past.
University Project – Shot on Sony
A speculative commercial for Granado’s ‘Lírio’ perfume, exploring the concept of mystery.
We pursued a narrative of revelation, where light sculpts the skin and the silhouette merges with the darkness.
Short Film – Shot on BlackMagic
Directed by: Gabriel Petitdemange
Faces Ocultas follows the journey of a masked waste collector, highlighting his displacement from society and the heavy burden of a gray, monotonous routine.
His reality remains immersed in cold, grayish tones, until an unexpected event brings color and meaning to his world.
Stock Footage Study – Shot on RED
Film Emulation & Nostalgia.
An exploration of organic aesthetics inspired by 16mm film.
Stock Footage Study – Shot on BlackMagic
Urban solitude.
A neon color palette, dominated by cool tones, was used to craft an atmosphere of melancholy and disconnection.
Stock Footage Study – Shot on RED
A calm and silent day, marked by an introspective connection with the surroundings.
A cold yet welcoming atmosphere, conveying peaceful and contemplative solitude.
Stock Footage Study – Shot on RED
A color approach that embraces clarity and saturation within a digital aesthetic to create a highly vivid image.
The grade focuses on vibrancy and the dramatic separation between the rich red of tradition, the dense green of the landscape, and the deep blue of the sky.
Stock Footage Study – Shot on ARRI
A balance between dense blues and vibrant magentas, maintaining natural skin tones while enhancing the water’s shimmer.
Exploring the cold/warm contrast to craft a soft and contemplative atmosphere.
Inside the Grade
A detailed analysis of the creative process behind selected grades. Click below to view the dedicated page.
About me
Gustavo Watanabe (22), an independent colorist based in São Paulo (SP), holding a degree in Audiovisual Production from FAAP (Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado).
Passionate about cinema and visual storytelling, I found in color grading a way to translate emotions and give stories a unique identity.
I always strive to reinforce the essence of each project through color, achieving results that merge technical consistency with an authorial aesthetic.
Elevate your projects with color that tells a story.
Contact me at:
contato@watanab.com