My first step in color grading this footage was to immerse myself in the scene and identify the emotions I wanted the audience to feel. Our main character, a deeply troubled woman, wraps plastic around her head in a desperate bid to become a prettier version of herself, much like in The Substance. But her attempt fails, twisting her into a horrifying, distorted figure. To better translate this intense, depressive, and chaotic state of mind, to color grade the scenes I used decaying green and yellowish hues—colors that associated with unease and introspection. I also emphasized red tones in her cheeks and lips to highlight her pursuit of beauty, creating a stark contrast against the scene’s dark, unraveling tone.