SCENE 01 / LOOK DEVELOPMENT
Look Development
Creative visual style development and LUT creation for distinctive cinematic aesthetics that define your production's unique identity.
Look development establishes the visual style and color aesthetic of a production before principal photography begins. Through testing with cameras, lenses, lighting, and LUTs, look development creates reference images and technical specifications that guide the entire production toward a unified visual identity.
We support look development by coordinating camera tests, LUT creation, and collaboration between your cinematographer and colorist. Our team arranges testing facilities and technical resources to ensure your production's visual look is defined, documented, and ready to guide consistent image capture from day one.
Capabilities
Visual Style Development Excellence
Create distinctive visual aesthetics through comprehensive look development, custom LUT design, and detailed style guides.
01
Creative Design
Unique visual aesthetics that define your production's identity and enhance storytelling.
Distinctive
02
LUT Creation
Custom look-up tables for on-set monitoring and post-production workflows.
Technical
03
Style Guides
Comprehensive documentation ensuring consistent implementation across all phases.
Consistent
04
Workflow Integration
Seamless look management from production through final delivery.
Seamless
Creative Services
Technical Deliverables
Our Look Development Process
We follow a collaborative creative process that ensures your visual vision is fully realized and documented for consistent implementation.
Creative Discovery
We discuss your vision, gather references, and analyze your footage to understand the aesthetic goals.
Look Exploration
We develop multiple look options on key scenes, presenting variations for your review and feedback.
Refinement
We refine the chosen direction, perfecting the look and creating all technical deliverables.
Implementation
We deliver LUTs, style guides, and documentation for seamless production and post integration.
Why Us
Why Choose Our Look Development
01.
Creative Vision
Innovative aesthetic design that elevates visual storytelling.
02.
Color Science
Advanced technical expertise in color workflow design.
03.
Collaborative Process
Close partnership with filmmakers throughout development.
04.
Complete Solutions
End-to-end look management from concept to delivery.
On Location
Show LUTs and ACES pipeline development through Park Road Post and Weta FX collaboration
Here is how this works in practice. We set up look development with colorists at Park Road Post Wellington and watching DPs working out of Auckland and The capital for show-LUT design, ACES IDT/ODT mapping, and on-set monitoring chains. Look-dev sessions typically run Resolve Studio for show-LUT generation, Baselight for finishing-aware look definition, and Pomfort Livegrade Studio for set-side preview LUT distribution to Teradek monitors and director's villages.
Here is how this works in practice. We support ARRI Alexa 35 LogC4, RED Komodo IPP2, Sony Venice 2 S-Log3, and Canon C500 Mk II Cinema Gamut workflows — all delivered through Panavision Auckland, Rocket Rentals, and Lemac The capital. Weta FX and Weta Workshop joint work on hybrid live-action/VFX productions like Avatar: The Way of Water, Mortal Engines, and Rings of Power needs VFX-aligned IDT and color space agreements upfront, and we structure pipeline test reels with Park Road and Weta together before principal photography. Pop Productions, Resolved Pictures, and Top Films handle independent-scale look development.
Here is the short of it. NZ look development heritage threads through Andrew Lesnie's cinematography on Lord of the Rings (Oscar for Cinematography, 2002), the Avatar HDR and HFR pioneering work with Weta FX, and Ari Wegner's Power of the Dog cinematography (2021) which earned Best Director for Jane Campion. NZIFF cinema-pass deliveries lock to DCI-P3 cinema specs for the Embassy Theatre Wellington, Auckland's Civic, Christchurch's Hoyts EntX, and Dunedin venues. HDR look-dev for Apple TV+ Dolby Vision, Netflix HDR, Amazon HDR10+, and HLG broadcast targets are baked in from session one. Te reo Māori-themed productions use kaitiaki advice on culturally fitting palette decisions. Pounamu, kōwhai, and pohutukawa references commonly inform color identity. GST 15 percent applies, NZD invoicing, Privacy Act 2020 chain-of-custody, ACC accident cover.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When should we start look development?
Ideally during pre-production. Early look development allows you to use monitoring LUTs on set, ensure consistent dailies, and align all departments on the visual direction. However, we can also develop looks during post-production if needed.
What do you need to create a look?
We work best with sample footage from your camera tests or early production, visual references (films, photographs, artwork), mood boards, and a discussion of your creative goals. The more context we have about your story and vision, the better we can serve your project.
How do LUTs work in production?
We create monitoring LUTs that can be applied to camera feeds and dailies, giving everyone on set a preview of the intended look. These technical LUTs are optimized for different display types and viewing conditions while preserving full dynamic range in your RAW footage.
Can you match a specific film or reference look?
We can analyze and recreate aesthetic qualities from references, though we develop unique interpretations rather than exact copies. Our goal is to understand what you respond to in references and create a distinctive look that serves your specific story and footage.
Related Services
Productions in New Zealand that need this often pair it with Color Correction Services, Color Grading Services, and Online Conform & QC Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Narrative & Documentary Editing and Foley Recording Services.
On Set
Ready to Define Your Visual Style?
Let's create distinctive looks that make your production unforgettable.