Investigating the artistic path of Squid Game's upcoming season
Demolishin' Dystopia: The Visual Evolution of Squid Game
The smash-hit South Korean show, Squid Game, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, sent shockwaves globally with its nail-biting premise and mesmerizing visuals. As the series ventures into Season 2, cinematographer Kim Ji-yong and colorist Park Jin Young aim to up the ante, crafting a more sophisticated and impactful visual experience.
Season 1 of Squid Game made a significant global impact, so colorist Park Jin Young didn't take his role in Season 2 lightly. "Collaborating with Kim Ji-yong, we agreed on respecting the bold colors from Season 1 while shaping a more moody and high-contrast tone to reflect the main character Gi-hun's emotional transformation," says Park Jin Young.
A Creative Duo for the Ages
Having worked together for over 15 years, Kim Ji-yong and Park Jin Young have a longstanding partnership, boasting collaborations on projects such as The Age of Shadows (2016), The Fortress (2017), and Decision to Leave (2022).
Throughout production, the colorist and DoP duo worked side by side, tweaking and reviewing color grading decisions based on each scene's atmosphere and emotional context.
Crafting a Richer, Darker Canvas
Staying true to the established look of Squid Game whilst adding depth was a priority for both Kim Ji-yong and Park Jin Young. "Rather than introducing a completely new aesthetic, I believed it was crucial to maintain a moody, somber vibe with stronger contrast overall," says cinematographer Kim Ji-yong.
Park Jin Young expounds, "Gi-hun appears the same on the surface, but this time around, his emotions are more intense and serious, so I thought that should be reflected through enhanced contrast and controlled brightness."
Utilizing the ARRI Alexa 35, one of the highest-quality digital cinema cameras available, the duo carefully balanced the need for a rich, elevated cinematic quality with preserving the unique atmosphere and color identity of the sets and art direction.
Harnessing Shades to Tell a Tale
The color palette for Season 2 was strategically nuanced, blending seamlessly with the Season 1 aesthetic while amplifying scenes and characters' emotional states. "In the dormitory, where characters sleep and vote, we created a contrast between night and day using strong amber tones in the darker scenes and subtle blue tones during the day," explains Park Jin Young.
In the pivotal Russian roulette scene between Gi-hun and the Recruiter, red neon lighting was used to express tension and emotional intensity. Such shifts in color helped emphasize each character's emotional journey and contribute to the overall storytelling mood.
Enrichment Data:
Camera and Lighting: The use of ARRI Alexa 35 allowed the team to maximize image potential, providing greater flexibility in capturing the set's unique colors and textures. Kim Ji-yong intentionally manipulated lighting, notably changing S60 lights to red and blue, extending the color motif from the games to the dormitories, creating symbolic and narrative resonance – red and blue signifying choice and control, especially during key game sequences such as the merry-go-round game 1.
Color Grading: Park Jin Young leveraged the Baselight grading suite to precisely control the emotional tone of each scene. He used advanced tools like Video Grade, Curve Grade, and Film Grade to adjust color and contrast, striving for smooth tonal transitions and balanced highlights and shadows in HDR. To avoid an overly digital look, he softened sharpness and added grain as needed 2.
In the second season of Squid Game, colorist Park Jin Young and cinematographer Kim Ji-yong aim to create a more nuanced and impactful visual experience, continuing their longstanding partnership in the world of movies-and-tv entertainment. Collaborating with Kim Ji-yong, Park Jin Young carefully balanced the need for a richer and darker cinematic quality with preserving the unique atmosphere and color identity of the sets and art direction, enhancing contrast and controlled brightness to reflect the main character Gi-hun's emotional transformation.
