Burbank, CA—Have you ever wondered why some movies or TV shows leave you feeling inspired while others have less emotional impact? Often it’s because of that little-discussed area of the post-production craft that few people think about—the art of color grading. The subconscious impact of creative color grading can be substantial, while its absence can be devastating, robbing content of its emotional punch.

In the new educational video from the The Editors’ Lounge Channel, veteran colorist and founder of Burbank-based AlphaDogs, Terence Curren, shows the importance color grading plays in storytelling. Whether it’s a gritty drama, cheerful rom-com, or moody horror movie, color grading is the key to making great stories come alive.

So, what would happen if color grading weren’t used? More than likely, everything would start to look the same—lacking depth or style—and be quite boring to watch. It’s only with the skill of a highly trained professional colorist that storytelling through film and television can be at its very best, leaving audiences feeling as though they were part of the story.