Commissioned for the 500th anniversary of an Italian palace, All That Changes You: Metamorphosis blends Renaissance splendor, ecological themes, and time-bending storytelling into a multi-screen cinematic experience. Senior Colorist Jean-Clément Soret discusses his longstanding creative collaboration with Isaac Julien and the color process behind their latest work in an interview with Televisual.

Drawing inspiration from 35mm film, Soret used a subtle LUT to maintain a cinematic quality without altering the natural colors of Palazzo Te. Despite the project’s futuristic themes, both Soret and director Julien sought to remain faithful to the frescoes and the historic environment. Soret also experimented with unconventional techniques, explaining that “we didn’t even use film grain or halation, it didn’t need it,” while allowing the LED dress sequence to appear “deliberately digitally futuristic” by avoiding his usual control of the color gamut. 

Similarly, the grade evolved through “many steps of trial and error,” guided by intuition rather than a fixed visual target. Working closely with cinematographer Jess Hall, Isaac used color to support themes of time, destruction, survival, religion, and science, continually testing what enhanced the narrative and cinematography. The challenge of grading ten screens simultaneously required constant refinement, particularly when balancing how each image related to the others. Ultimately, the grade helped emphasize key contrasts within the story, including “England and California, future and present, simplicity and chaos,” creating a visual language that strengthened the film’s thematic experience.  

All That Changes You: Metamorphosis, by Isaac Julien, is at The Cosmic House until 18 December 2026. Read the full article in the Summer 2026 edition of Televisual.