Colorist Arianna Shining Star has joined the roster at Santa Monica-based color and finishing boutique Apache. Her credits include spots and branded shorts for Apple, Nike, Porsche, Budweiser, Tommy Hilfiger, Spotify, and Coca-Cola. Her music video credits include the MTV VMA-nominated videos “Wild Thoughts” for Rihanna and Justin Bieber’s visual album for “Purpose.” Her longform work includes newly released Netflix feature film “Ibiza,” a comedy co-produced by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions.
After studying Cinematic Arts and Psychology at USC, she cut her teeth at Company 3 as an assistant colorist. She then worked as a Baselight specialist for FilmLight before joining Paramount Pictures, where she remastered feature films in HDR. She was then brought on as colorist at Velem, to spearhead the postproduction department of Milk Studios.
With Northern California roots, the colorist’s distinctive middle name (she goes by her first and middle names professionally) comes from her parents, who met at a Grateful Dead concert during a performance of the Jerry Garcia classic song, “Shining Star.” Something of a next-gen Dead Head herself, she admits to having seen the current iteration of the band over 30 times.
Her flair for color grading grew out of her interests in the visual arts, and she brings her background in painting, drawing and photography to inspire her work in the color suite. “It was serendipitous,” she explained about her introduction to the craft. Studying criminal neuroscience at USC, she had dinner with a friend who was interning at a post house. “She told me about [color grading], and I had an incredibly visceral reaction–it’s the perfect synergy between art and science. I immediately switched gears to the USC School of Cinematic Arts, started coloring friends’ films and never looked back.”
Her background and interest in psychology is clear as she explained what attracts her most to color grading: “It has the ability to elevate not only production value and overall aesthetic, but can help guide the viewers’ emotional journey through the piece,” she said. “I love the opportunity to put the finishing touches on a piece, too. After countless people have poured their heart and soul into crafting a film, it’s an immense privilege to have the last creative touch.”
Apache managing partner LaRue Anderson said of the first woman colorist on the company roster, “It’s a testament to her creative skills that she’s flourished in what’s largely a male-dominated category of postproduction. There’s a lack of role models for women coming up in the creative ranks of color and visual effects. Women have to work hard to get on the playing field. Arianna is not only on the field, she owns the field. She’s established herself as a specialist who DPs and directors lean on for creative collaboration.”
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More