About Us

Hi, I'm Chris Layhe! I'm a highly experienced and creative color grader / colorist and editor on feature films, documentaries, narratives, tv programs, commercials for the small and big screens, music videos and high end corporate and brand videos. I work across the San Francisco Bay and Santa Cruz / Monterey area, in Los Angeles and remotely across the US and Europe.

I have over 30 years of experience as an editor , colorist (and ex-DP/Director), starting at the BBC in documentary film to perfect my storytelling chops before fine tuning my skills at Saatchi's in London to hone my creative eye, and only then moving my own company to the States. I added color grading to my portfolio 12 years ago and was fortunate enough to be elected to the Colorist Society International, the feature film professional colorist body, in 2016.

I'm probably best known for post-production editing and color grading on larger sensor camera projects. I was one of the first converts from film to the RED digital cinema system and the Arri Alexa, developing real world workflows to handle their hugely complex outputs in the edit and color grade - as well as shooting with my own RED One and Alexa beasts. Over the years these experiences have translated into a deep creative understanding on how to get the best out of 4k to 8k sensors, while making their high resolution digital outputs look and flow filmically, whether it is around the camera, behind the grading screen or cutting short and long form projects of all types.

My post studio is in the South San Francisco Bay, with satellite spaces in central San Francisco, central San Jose and Los Angeles... as well as bringing my edit and colorist skills to you, or on location with portable systems. Of course, I can come to you for briefings and the like, when that is helpful. I edit on DaVinci Resolve, Premiere, Avid Symphony, and FCP X and 7 on extreme mac pro systems; color grade primarily on DaVinci Resolve studio and Colorlab AI+ on matching full bore mac pro D700 systems; and can provide a complete a la carte service as a finishing editor, colorist, final audio mix and master output to turn your rough cut into a perfect movie - whatever you need. As a production bonus I can often also make my 6k cameras, lighting, audio and gaffer equipment available on projects.

Last but not least, I'm able to be extremely flexible and budget and schedule friendly - often a major requirement for any project - in part by using all of my experience to work solo very efficiently but then being able to quickly upscale to add other creative compatible professionals to the team as needed on more complex projects. It's a very effective way of working that allows for the highest levels of quality and creativity without breaking the bank. It also allows building in time for us to chat to plan your post before leaping in and help to evolve ways to create pieces that excel.

We have been in the industry since 1982.