a52 Color Expands with Colorist Gregory Reese

Jul. 11, 2019

Gregory Reese adds his creative vision to the team at the recently established stand-alone grading and finishing studio a52 Color. Led by Executive Producer Thatcher Peterson, Reese joins the Los Angeles-based roster of in-demand colorists that includes Paul Yacono and Daniel de Vue.

Reese established a name for himself over the course of eight years as a colorist at The Mill. He has colored a spectrum of commercials for athletic brands including Nike and Reebok, as well as campaigns for Audi, Apple, CoverGirl, GMC, Progressive, and Samsung. Having the opportunity to work with influential directors including AG Rojas, Matt Lambert, and Harold Einstein has contributed to Reese’s ability to grade for any style.

He’s contributed to several projects for Apple including the acclaimed “History of Sound” spot, which sonically chronicles the decades from the late 1800s to 2015. Landing the historical authenticity with his treatment of each vignette, the ad earned Reese a nomination from the Hollywood Professional Association for Outstanding Color Grading in a Commercial.

Managing Director Jennifer Sofio Hall remarks:

“The addition of Greg beautifully rounds out our talent in the DI division. Similarly to the VFX team at a52, he’s got a rich history of working with some of the best commercial directors in the industry. Having that offering for our clients is paramount to creating a complete post experience.”

 

Reese doesn’t pigeonhole himself to any specific look, preferring to let the project brief dictate his visual approach.

Of his role, Reese says: 

“Color is at the center of how audiences engage with a picture in motion. Some of its technical components may not always be instantly recognized by the audience, but when it’s done right, it can make for an emotional experience.” 

 

Merging his love for music with the passion for his craft, Reese has collaborated with artists like Jack Ü, Major Lazer, Arctic Monkeys, Run The Jewels, Jack White, Pharrell Williams, and many more. He’s been a notable contributor to Vince Staples’ canon, having graded a series of his videos as he rose from up-and-comer to bona fide star, with his cool treatment for the gravity-defying clip “Lift Me Up” earning him a UKMVA nomination for Best Colour Grade. Acknowledging Reese’s knack for enhancing the pull of a music video through his craft, his warm, cinematic grade for Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” earned him an AICE Award for Color Grading in the Music Video category.

Thatcher Peterson and Reese previously worked together at The Mill in LA.

Peterson says:

“Having had the fortunate experience of working with Gregory at The Mill, I knew he was the real deal when it came to a seasoned colorist. It’s a great advantage to be working with him again as he heightens a52 Color’s growing talent pool of top-notch colorists.”

 

The all-new facility was yet another perk that sealed the deal for Reese, as he explains: 

“One of the biggest barriers for entry to color is not having access to theatres. a52 Color solves that problem with having the ability to grade both broadcast and theatrical formats as well as giving us a high level of creative freedom. It left me immediately impressed by how invested they are in making it the absolute best place to go for color grading.”