Stefan Sonnenfeld


Stefan Sonnenfeld is an American digital intermediate colorist, co-founder and president of post-production house Company 3, and president of VFX house Method Studios. He has performed color grading/color correction on many commercials and feature films including the Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformers franchises.

Career

Sonnenfeld grew up in Los Angeles and after a summer job delivering dailies for popular 80s series Miami Vice his interest in post production was ignited. He worked at Pacific Ocean Post during the 1990s.
Described by NPR as a "da Vinci of the movies," Sonnenfeld has worked as a DI colorist for films including Watchmen, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, 300, Sweeney Todd and Dreamgirls. As many commercial directors made the transition to long-form work, Sonnenfeld became increasingly involved in grading feature films, helping to pioneer the digital intermediate process. Sonnenfeld is among a handful of artists who have championed the telecine process.
In 2007, Entertainment Weekly named Sonnenfeld to its list of "50 Smartest People in Hollywood" and Creativity-Online included him in its "Creativity 50" in 2008. Sonnenfeld also received the HPA Award Best Color Grading for 300 in 2007 and was the recipient of the HPA Award Outstanding Color Grading for Pepsi "Pass" in 2009. In 2010 he received the HPA Award for Outstanding Color Grading Using a DI Process for Alice in Wonderland.

Sunny Field Entertainment

In 2010, Sonnenfeld signed a first-look producing deal with Paramount Pictures for his feature film production company, Sunny Field Entertainment. Based in Santa Monica, CA, Sunny Field is a portal for filmmakers in the commercial/music video space making the leap into features. Sunny Field's offerings include the traditional resources of a production company as well as state-of-the-art post-production services.

Selected filmography

Feature films

'''As finishing artist/colorist, supervisor & producer'''

2017

TitleDirectorCinematographerEditorRolesOther notes
XXX: Return of Xander CageD. J. CarusoRussell CarpenterJim Page, Vince FilipponeCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
The FounderJohn Lee HancockJohn SchwartzmanRobert FrazenCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Fifty Shades DarkerJames FoleyJohn SchwartzmanRichard Francis-BruceCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
John Wick: Chapter 2Chad StahelskiDan LaustsenEvan SchiffCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Jill Bogdanowicz
Beauty and the BeastBill CondonTobias SchliesslerVirginia KatzCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Power RangersDean IsraeliteMatthew J. LloydMartin Bernfeld & Dody DornCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Company 3 Color Assistants: Danny Keefe, Giovanni DiGiorgio
Encore Vancouver Dailies Colorist: Jaan Spirka
Encore Vancouver Color Consultant: Sean Coleman
GiftedMarc WebbStuart DryburghBill PankowCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
HeatMichael MannDante SpinottiDov Hoenig, Pasquale Buba, William Goldenberg & Tom RolfCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristOriginally released in 1995. Remastered in 4K in 2016 with Mann supervising the transfer
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No TalesJoachim Rønning & Espen SandbergPaul CameronRoger Barton & Leigh Folsom-BoydCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Wonder WomanPatty JenkinsMatthew JensenMartin WalshDigital Intermediate ColouristColour Assistants: Giovanni DiGiorgio, Tyrell Lloyd, John A. Maltby, Lucie Barbier, Chris Francis, Jonas Jangvad
Dailies Colourist: James Slattery
The MummyAlex KurtzmanBen SeresinPaul Hirsch, Gina Hirsch, Andrew MondsheinExecutive Producer/ColoristDigital Conform: Joe Ken
Color Assistant: John Tripp
The Book of HenryColin TrevorrowJohn SchwartzmanKevin StittCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Transformers: The Last KnightMichael BayJonathan SelaMark Sanger, John Refoua, Debra Neil-Fisher, Roger Barton, Adam Gerstel, Calvin Wimmer
Additional Editor: Julie Monroe
CO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
EC3 Colorist: Adrian Delude
3D Convergence Artist: Jared Pecht
Color Assistants: John Tripp, Giovanni DiGiorgio
The Last FaceSean PennBarry AckroydJay CassidyCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
The Only Living Boy in New YorkMarc WebbStuart DryburghTim StreetoCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristAdditional Colorist: Andrew Geary
American AssassinMichael CuestaEnrique ChediakConrad Buff IVCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Bunker 77Takuji MasudaDavid Homcy & Anthony KiedisMatt Chessé & Tyler HubbyCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
SuburbiconGeorge ClooneyRobert ElswitStephen MirrioneCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Roman J. Israel, Esq.Dan GilroyRobert ElswitJon GilroyCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Father FiguresLawrence SherJohn LindleyDana E. GlaubermanCO3 Executive ProducerCompany 3 Senior Digital Intermediate Colorist: Jill Bogdanowicz
Color7 Preview Colorist: Mark Sachen

2018

TitleDirectorCinematographerEditorRolesOther notes
The Cloverfield ParadoxJulius OnahDan MindelAlan Baumgarten, Matt Evans, Rebecca ValenteCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Fifty Shades FreedJames FoleyJohn SchwartzmanRichard Francis-Bruce, Debra Neil-Fisher & David ClarkCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Red SparrowFrancis LawrenceJo WillemsAlan Edward BellCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Dave Hussey
Color Assistants: Tyrell Lloyd, John Tripp
A Quiet PlaceJohn KrasinskiCharlotte Bruus ChristensenChristopher TellefsenCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Pacific Rim UprisingSteven S. DeKnightDan MindelZach Staenberg, Dylan Highsmith & Josh SchaefferExecutive Producer/ColoristCompany 3 Color Assistants: Tyrell Lloyd, John Tripp
FotoKem NextLAB Colorist: Jon Roce
AdriftBaltasar KormákurRobert RichardsonJohn GilbertCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Sicario: Day of the SoldadoStefano SollimaDariusz WolskiMatthew NewmanCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Stephen Nakamura
Color Assistants: Tyrell Lloyd, John Tripp
The First PurgeGerard McMurrayAnastas MichosJim PageCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Tim Stipan
Color Assistant: Nicholas Figueroa
SkyscraperRawson Marshall ThurberRobert ElswitMichael L. Sale, Julian ClarkeCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristCompany 3 Color Assists: John Tripp, Tyrell Lloyd
Encore Vancouver Dailies Colorist: Ed Twiford
The Equalizer IIAntoine FuquaOliver WoodConrad BuffCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Christopher RobinMarc ForsterMatthias KoenigswieserMatt ChesséCO3 Executive ProducerDI Colorist: Sofie Friis Borup
Color Assistants: Tyrell Lloyd, Daniel Keefe
A Simple FavorPaul FeigJohn SchwartzmanBrent WhiteCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
Free SoloElizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy ChinJimmy Chin, Clair Popkin & Mikey SchaeferBob EisenhardtCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
A Star is BornBradley CooperMatthew LibatiqueJay CassidyCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist
VenomRuben FleischerMatthew LibatiqueMaryann Brandon & Alan BaumgartenDI ColoristAssistant Colorists: Vincent Ferro, Tyrell Lloyd
Dailies Colorist: Ben Estrada
HalloweenDavid Gordon GreenMichael SimmondsTim AlversonCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Tom Poole
OverlordJulius AveryLaurie Rose, Fabian WagnerMatt EvansCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristColor Assistants: John Tripp, Tyrell Lloyd
Dailies Colorist: James Slattery
Robin HoodOtto BathurstGeorge SteelJoe Hutshing & Chris BarwellCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist

2026

Denotes projects that have not yet been released

2025

TitleShowrunnerDirectorCinematographerEditorRolesOther notes
American PrimevalMark L. SmithPeter BergJacques JouffretHugo Diaz, Jon Otazua, Art Jones
Additional Editing: Jeffrey M. Werner, Rafa Garcia
Supervising ColoristColorist: Parker Jarvie
Finishing Assists: Clayton Hunt, Seamus Finnegan
PulseZoe Robyn, Carlton CuseKate Dennis, Sarah Boyd, S. J. Main Muñoz, Wendey Stanzler, Carlton CuseMarc Laliberte, Ramsey NickellLuyen Vu, Colin RichSupervising ColoristColorist: Joanna Rourke
Additional Colorist: Ian Passy
Government CheesePaul Hunter, Aeysha CarrØystein KarlsenMatthew J. LloydJoel PashbyColoristAdditional Colorist: Sean Coleman
Star Trek : Strange New Worlds Season 3Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso MyersChris Fisher, Jordan Canning, Dan Liu, Jonathan Frakes, Andi Armaganian, Valerie Weiss, Sharon Lewis, Andrew Coutts, Maja VrviloBenji Bakshi, Ian Anderson, Glen Keenan, Maja VrviloAndrew Coutts, Dana Gasparine, Wes Whitton, Preston RappSupervising ColoristColorist: Cody Baker
The Last FrontierJon Bokenkamp, Richard D'OvidioSam Hargrave, John Curran, Jessica Lowery, Dennie GordonGiorgio Scali, Bernard Couture, Michael Caracciolo, Patrick MurguiaChris Brookshire, Orlando Machado Jr., David Post, Amy FlemingSupervising ColoristColorist: Adam Nazarenko

Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Music videos

YearTitleArtistDirectorCinematographerEditorRolesOther notes
1995California LoveTupac, Dr. Dre, Roger TroutmanHype WilliamsJohn PerezTBASenior Colorist
1997If God Will Send His AngelsU2Phil JoanouMarc ReshovskyPhil JoanouSenior ColoristFilmed with Panavision Panaflex Platinum cameras and E-Series anamorphic lenses. Shot on 35 mm film
1999Wild Wild WestWill SmithPaul HunterThomas KlossHarvey WhiteSenior ColoristShot on Kodak Vision 500T 5279 35 mm film with Cooke S4 Lenses
2001You Rock My WorldMichael JacksonPaul HunterJeff CronenwethHarvey WhiteSenior Colorist
2016SandcastlesBeyoncéMark RomanekReed MoranoTBASenior Colorist
2016Can't Stop the Feeling!Justin TimberlakeMark RomanekJody Lee LipesTBASenior Colorist
2016Don't Wanna KnowTBADavid DobkinJohn PerezTBASenior Colorist
2017TorchesTBARobby StarbuckMatthew T. RodgersRobby StarbuckSenior Colorist
2018FilthyTBAMark RomanekAdam RichardsDamion ClaytonSenior ColoristVisual Effects Supervisor: Jesse Bradstreet
Visual Effects by Method Studios
2018SuppliesJustin TimberlakeDave MeyersScott CunninghamNick GilbergSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Rodeo FX
Shot on Red Helium cameras with Cooke Optics Anamorphic/i and Hawk C-Series Lenses
2018All the StarsKendrick LamarDave Meyers, Kendrick Lamar, Dave FreeStarr WhitesidesGreg ScrutonSenior ColoristLamar & Free are credited as The Little Homies
2018No Tears Left to CryAriana GrandeScott CunninghamNick GilbergShot on Red Weapon Helium cameras with Cooke S4 LensesSenior Colorist-
2018WinJay RockScott CunninghamDave Meyers, Dave FreeGreg ScrutonSenior ColoristShot on Red Helium and Phantom Flex4K cameras with Arri Ultra Prime Lenses
2018God Is a WomanAriana GrandeScott CunninghamDave MeyersTBASenior Colorist
2018Stop Trying to Be GodTBAScott CunninghamDave MeyersTBASenior Colorist
2018Made For NowTBAScott CunninghamDave MeyersNick GilbergSenior Colorist
2018ConsequencesTBAScott CunninghamDave MeyersNick GilbergSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Method Studios
2018Sicko ModeTBAScott CunninghamDave MeyersGreg ScrutonSenior Colorist
2018ZeroImagine DragonsScott CunninghamDave MeyersNick GilbergSenior Colorist
2019GirlMaren MorrisScott CunninghamDave MeyersBiff ButlerSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
2019Bad GuyBillie EilishScott CunninghamTBASenior Colorist-
2019Me!Taylor SwiftScott CunninghamTBADave Meyers, Taylor SwiftSenior ColoristVisual Effects Supervisors: Loris Paillier & Lucas Salton
2019Swan SongDua LipaFloria SigismondiPhilippe Le SourdClark EddySenior Colorist
2019A LotTBAAisultan SeitovXiaolong LiuTBASenior Colorist
2019SeñoritaShawn Mendes, Camila CabelloDave MeyersScott CunninghamAlyssa OhSenior Colorist
2019AntisocialEd Sheeran, Travis ScottDave MeyersScott CunninghamAlyssa OhSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Mathematic
2019Highest in the RoomTBADave MeyersScott CunninghamAlyssa OhSenior ColoristPost Production Services by Ingenuity Studios
2019Adore YouHarry StylesDave MeyersScott CunninghamAlyssa OhSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Mathematic
2020My Oh MyCamila CabelloDave MeyersScott CunninghamAlyssa OhSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
2020FallingHarry StylesDave MeyersScott CunninghamGreg ScrutonSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Mathematic
2020How to Be LonelyTBADave MeyersPatrick MurguiaAlyssa OhSenior ColoristVisual Effects by Mathematic
2020LockdownScott CunninghamDave MeyersAlyssa OhSenior Colorist-
2020Laugh Now Cry LaterScott CunninghamDave MeyersTBASenior Colorist-
2020PositionsScott CunninghamDave MeyersAlyssa OhSenior Colorist-
2022UnholySam Smith, Kim PetrasFloria SigismondiJoel HoneywellJarrett FijalSenior ColoristAdditional Colorist: Parker Jarvie
Senior Producer, Color: Blake Rice
2023Spin Bout UDrake, 21 SavageDave MeyersScott CunninghamNathan RodgersSenior ColoristShot on Sony CineAlta Venice 2 cameras with Cooke S7 lenses
2023Middle GroundMaroon 5David DobkinGiles DunningBill YukichSenior ColoristProducer: Blake Rice
2024I Know?Travis ScottDave MeyersScott CunninghamGreg Scruton
Additional Editor: Sabra Stratton
Senior ColoristProducer: Blake Rice
Shot on Arricam LT 3-perf with Zeiss Super Speed lenses on Kodak Vision3 250D 5207 & 500T 5219 film
2024RuinUsher, PheelzDave MeyersScott CunninghamCarlos Font ClosSenior ColoristProducer: Blake Rice
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