Color Correction Courses: Are They Really Useful? How do I Avoid Scams?
In this article, you will find out the real value of attending a color correction/color grading course, what you will learn and how to avoid getting ripped off!
Are you ready? Then let’s begin!
Duration
The courses have an average duration of 2-3 days.
How useful is it? What will I learn?
Taking a color correction course is certainly a good starting point!
Is that all?
I’m going to be honest with you: yes, that’s all.
Why do I say that?
You see, the point of a color correction course is really to give you a foundation, or a direction.
In most color correction courses, you will learn the main functions of DaVinci Resolve (or of whichever software you’re studying), the basics of workflow and you’ll carry out a few brief exercises, practising what the trainer has just explained.
To sum up, it’s all stuff that you can learn perfectly well yourself by reading the DaVinci Resolve Manual and a couple of online articles.
In my own case, attending a colour correction course was useful for helping me to understand my true nature, and my direction.
I was fascinated by the world of video, but, at the same time, I was completely incapable of choosing which path to take.
At that point, I decided to attend a few different courses: Video Making, VFX, Colour Correction, etc.
In the end, I loved colour correction more than almost anything else I’d ever done.
When you discover something that manages to turn from a passion into an obsession within a short space of time, you really are screwed!
Going back to the point…
The truth is that to become a Colorist, you really do need to put in decades of work.
A great colorist once said: “After 20,000 hours of practice, you’ll begin to understand anything, really”.
20,000 hours are about 7 years. And that’s assuming that you’re working 365 days per year! ;)
Now, do you really think that a two-day colour correction course will transform you into a professional colorist, ready to take on large-scale projects?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the path to success really is a long one and the most difficult part begins as soon as the course finishes!
Hold up!
Now that you’ve found out how useful attending a color correction course really is, it’s necessary to make a distinction.
Trainer vs Colorist
Why do we need to make this distinction?
In 90% of cases, your color correction course will be led by a trainer, not a colonist (at least, that’s what I’ve noticed here in Italy).
You will very rarely find a course led by a colorist.
Trainers and colorists: what’s the difference?
A trainer is someone who has received a specific training, and then in turn passes on everything that they’ve learned to people who attend their color correction courses. It’s as simple as that.
These courses are a trainer’s main source of income.
A colorist, on the other hand, hasn’t just received training in their field - they are in constant contact with directors, photography directors, agencies etc., and they work with these people daily on their color projects for TV spots, movies, music videos and much more.
A colorist’s main sources of income are the projects that they are working on.
I should remind you, however, that it is possible to find courses led by colorists, even if it’s a very low percentage.
So far, so good, right? A trainer makes money working as a trainer, and a colonist makes money working as a colorist.
Where does the problem lie?
The problem with color correction courses begins when a trainer decides to sell themselves as a colorist in order to attract more potential students to their course.
I’ll be honest with you: it’s a very serious problem.
But why is this such a serious problem?
By labeling themselves as colorists, some trainers fool students into thinking that they will be attending a color correction course led by a real live colorist whose everyday work consists of big movies, publicity spots, etc.
In other words, the best of the best!
Unfortunately, the reality doesn’t quite match up.
Why?
I challenge any trainer to work under pressure on a timeline of 1700 shots with various problems to identify and resolve within a few seconds, with their client breathing down their neck and interfacing constantly with all the different departments, etc.
It would never happen!
Why not?
It’s very simple: a trainer might have all the knowledge, but they will have very little practical experience.
Be honest: would you prefer for your heart surgery to be done by someone who knows how to save your life “in theory”, or by a cardiologist who on top of theory has many years of experience of performing that task every single day?
Fortunately, the truth will out and we all have an internet connection.
How can you avoid scams?
Google is your new best friend!
Search for the name of the trainer and check their credentials.
If the trainer claims that they are a colorist, but you can’t find a showreel or a website showing their work, and you see that their first and only project was on their cousin’s short film in 2007, don’t bother.
So you advise against trainers?
Absolutely not! The vast majority of trainers are great. They do their work with passion and honesty, and will certainly know how to give you all the necessary tools to take your first steps into this new world!
Do your research and remember that attending a color correction course is the first step on a long journey that will take years to complete, and will require a great deal of learning and sacrifice. There aint nothing in this world for free.
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