Company 3 New York colorist Jake White speaks to LBB as part of their Making The Grade series, discussing his creative process, his rise through the ranks, and why the best color work always puts the narrative first.

Since joining Company 3 in 2016, Jake has built a diverse and impressive portfolio across feature films, commercials, and music videos. From his early days in client services to serving as a lead assistant to senior colorist Tom Poole, Jake has developed a deeply collaborative, relationship-driven approach to the craft.

Speaking on what defines a successful project, Jake commented in the article, “I think a great grade really serves the story. I’ve definitely seen and done grades that look really cool but do not serve the story at all, and there’s a discordance you can feel. The best color doesn’t call attention to itself the entire time… if the only thing you’re seeing when watching a project is the grade, then there’s probably something off.”

Learn more about Jake’s journey into color grading and his advice for budding colorists here.