Primary (formerly a52 Color) has added colorist Kya Lou to its roster for global representation. She is known for a grading style that is at once artistic, scholarly and emotionally evocative. Lou, who has also worked as an editor and photographer, previously graded out of her own studio, COLOURED ONLY .
Lou has worked on behalf of brands such as Adidas, Calvin Klein and Wales Bonner for stylistically forward directors including Jazmin Garcia, Terence Nance, Kwaku Beke, Sophia Nahli Allison, Stuart McIntyre and Jeano Edwards. She has also been an ongoing collaborator with filmmaker Kahlil Joseph, namely as an editor of “BLKNWS®” — a real-time, “conceptual journalism” broadcast that seeks to “highlight the vastness of the Black experience.”
“I was drawn to Primary not just for their great body of work, but also for the studio’s intimate nature,” said Lou. “The open environment encourages transparent conversations, which helps bring in projects that are meaningful to colorists. For me, what’s important is ensuring that Black cinema is representative of authentic Black experiences in a process that has historically deprioritized Black folk and People of Color in postproduction.”
Thatcher Peterson, executive producer for Primary, added, “Kya brings skill, artistry and a fresh perspective. She is a naturally gifted talent.”
Lou grew up in San Diego and studied photography at UCLA. Her grandfather was a photographer and pictures were a major part of her life. The art of capturing moments, and the details that made them unique, was an often-emphasized practice. Lou became fascinated with the interplay between creative decisions and the technical process, which led to her interest in the history of color and how it has been contextualized within social, cultural and political movements. She founded her studio, COLOURED ONLY, not only to create filmmaking opportunities for herself but for other Black, indigenous and people of color as well.
