The highest-grossing Chinese film, “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” and its sequel, “The Battle at Lake Changjin II,” have been graded using DaVinci Resolve Studio by the colorist team led by Zhang Gen from Beijing Shangtian Film and Media. The software provided essential tools for managing the extensive post-production process within a tight schedule.
Challenges in Grading
“The Battle at Lake Changjin” was directed and produced by renowned Chinese filmmakers Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, and Dante Lam. The film stars Wu Jing and Jackson Yee, depicting the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) fighting U.S. forces during the Korean War at Lake Changjin, also known as Chosin Reservoir. Its sequel focuses on the PVA soldiers’ attack on Sumun Bridge, a crucial point in the American troops’ retreat.
Zhang Gen faced significant challenges grading these films due to tight deadlines and varied shooting conditions. “As the last stage of post production, there was even less time left for the colorists,” Zhang stated. “The first film was co-directed by multiple directors and filmed by different crews using a variety of cameras.”
Collaboration Features
The collaboration features in DaVinci Resolve Studio were instrumental in overcoming these challenges. Multiple artists could work on the same timeline simultaneously, enhancing efficiency. “When the assistant adjusted the edit, the colorist was still able to work with the director on color correction,” Zhang explained.
Zhang and his team graded footage from different directors separately, ensuring each director was satisfied before combining all shots into a cohesive film. This meticulous process involved making necessary adjustments to match the color of each scene within the larger narrative.
HDR Tools
The HDR tools in DaVinci Resolve Studio were extensively used for both films. Zhang noted, “After setting up the color space for the timeline, the HDR tools gave us very precise control over a specific zone, so we were able to adjust the density and temperature of the sky without affecting the ground and skin tones on one node.”
The clip color feature was also beneficial in managing multiple versions of VFX shots. “With clip color, it was very convenient to identify and manage these versions,” Zhang said.
HDR Vivid Support
Following the addition of HDR Vivid support to DaVinci Resolve Studio 18, Zhang Gen created HDR Vivid versions of “The Battle at Lake Changjin” and other Chinese blockbusters using the software.