Ethos Studio Adds Colourist Sam Howells

Post-production studio Ethos welcomes colourist Sam Howells to its roster of talent. Largely self-taught, Sam relishes in experimentation and sourcing references from outside the standard canon, often finding inspiration in photography and paintings for their use of colour, light, and composition. 

Sam deftly blends technical skills with creativity to draw out texture and emotionality from characters and settings, bringing another layer of narrative depth to films. As a colourist, he acts as a liaison between collaborators and translates their various ideas into faithful screen adaptations of their shared story vision. Sam recently won an AICP Award for Best Colour Grading in the Music Video category for his work on Travis Scott’s 'Sirens.' He frequently collaborates with director Andre Muir on projects like the provocative music video for 'Blue Eyes' by Vic Mensa, 'Smoke Break-Dance' by rapper Mick Jenkins, and 'Black-owned Friday' by Keke Palmer feat. Crystal Waters for Google’s #BlackOwnedFriday initiative, encouraging the continued support of Black-owned businesses across the country.

His skills as a colourist can be seen in many feature films, including the Sundance hit 'Ghostlight,' directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, currently in theatres. Sam also coloured 'Waiting for the Light to Change,' directed by Linh Tran, which won the Slamdance Grand Jury Prize in 2023, and 'A Black Hole Near Kent County,' directed by Hannah Schierbeek. He’s colour-graded fashion films for Woolrich, Ben Davis, Aritzia, and LeSportsac, as well as many commercials for cherished brands like Kerrygold, Volkswagen, and Levi’s.

“I’ve been a fan of the team at Ethos for a while now,” remarks Sam on signing with the adaptive studio. “I see Ethos taking a different approach in the industry than other post-houses. I’m constantly impressed with the colourists on Ethos’ roster, and I’m excited to play a part in that!”

Ethos’ founder and executive producer James Drew adds, “Sam’s artistry adds deep levels of nuance to every film he works on. He can dial in specific emotional moments in a story and create worlds you can feel through the screen. His work compels audiences and engages their feelings. He’s an incredible collaborator and is an exciting addition to the Ethos team. We’re very fortunate to have him on board with us.”