The Work That Made Me: Katie Dymmock
Katie has carved a name for herself as one of the industry's most valued colourists, both in her craft and personality. She came into the world of colour through Rushes where she began working as a runner, moving through into MCR before honing her skills in Resolve. She went on to be a colourist at Coffee & TV and The Mill, working on campaigns for Mercedes, Volvo, Tanqueray and Charlotte Tilbury before joining the roster at OkayStudio in January 2024.
Katie is known for her fashion and beauty work across the industry of which her work has received critical acclaim. For her though, she's less of a girly girl than people may think; her eclectic personality spans not only through her work but through her life outside of her suite, often spending weekends moshing at gigs with her friends and standing at the side line of track racing events all over the country.
A person with many sides and lots of skills to her name, she tells LBB more about the work that brought her to where she is today:
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Katie> Like most teenagers in the early 2000s, my evenings were mostly spent watching the music channels after school, for me it was all about Kerrang! (RIP, Kerrang!’s music channel ended this year) Linkin Parks ‘In The End’ has always stuck with me. There's something about Mike Shinoda rapping in a desert with some crazy CG whales flying around that makes me feel nostalgic! I think I was maybe too young to fully understand what CG and VFX were, but I knew I was fascinated by it.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Katie> The Streets - 'Fit But You Know It' actually led me to where I am today. Not only did the song catch on for me and everyone else at the time, I remember thinking “How did they get the photos to move?!”. Funnily enough the post was done at Rushes where, several years later, I started as a runner. I remember mentioning it in my interview there and here we are today!
LBB> The creative work (film/album/game/ad/album/book/poem etc) that I keep revisiting…
Katie> I’ve not stopped listening to Turnstiles 'Glow On' since it came out in 2021. It always hypes me up when I’m feeling in a lump, for anyone needing to shake off some energy I urge you all to pop your screens down and put this on. Another piece that sticks with me is Kim Gehrig's Viva La Vulva which will always be iconic, not only for being empowering while humorous, it's also so beautifully crafted.
LBB> My first professional project…
Katie> The first piece I really remember doing was a short film by a director called Joshua Black, who I still work with to this day. It's always nice to grow with creatives in this industry, often short films and music videos are a place we all start at and still to this day enjoy doing. They’re the jobs that allow a lot of creative freedom, collaboration with creatives and fun! One of my favourite grades from the last year was Ghost Town 'New Rules', shot on film by Marti Guiver and Directed by Devon Kuziw.
I was also fortunate to work on a piece for Vicky Lawton which ignited my love for beauty grading and fuelled my desire to work on more campaigns in this area.
LBB> The piece of work (ad/music video/ platform…) that still makes me jealous…
Katie> Simona Cristea’s grade for Mert & Marcus’ Gucci campaign where they recreated all the Stanley Kubrick films is so phenomenal. It is a truly beautifully made piece, and a wonderful execution by her! Gucci really seem to do it for me because Fiona Burgess' Bloom campaign with Florence Welch was also ethereal. A beautiful, floral dream world, with a gorgeous grade by Julien Alary.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Katie> For me it would be the Kate Spade 19 campaign for Emma Dalzell. I remember feeling that this was a huge step up for me. I was lucky in that it was beautifully shot on film, with an incredible creative team behind it and some big talent, it is still a project I look back on with fondness.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Katie> The Volvo EX30 campaign in 2023 was a huge challenge for me, in the best way. There were large CG elements and live action all tied together beautifully. I‘m so pleased with the final result of the film, it was a really gorgeous palette of pastel skies - my favourite kind!
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…
Katie> I think we all look back on old jobs, and with our new knowledge and wish we could grade it differently. I don’t think I have anything that makes me mega cringe, but just “ooh I would do that so much better now!” Technical things like softening shapes, or tidying up keys.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…
Katie> Recently at OkayStudio I worked on a Nowness job; 'Workshop of Wonders'. I was super pleased with the final film, it was a great experience working with Ale at OkayStudio who edited it, and Tom Dream whose work I have been a fan of for years. These are my favourite kind of jobs, an amalgamation of narrative, beauty, strong creatives and beautifully shot.
LBB> How do you wind down out of the grading suite..
Katie> For me, a perfect weekend has to include some cheese and wine, I pride myself on knowing where to source the best spots for this in London! I grew up in a household where F1 was king, and as much as I didn't appreciate it as a kid, for the past couple of years I've been track racing with my Dad in our mini cooper - the noise, rush and adrenaline of these days is totally addictive.
A recent collaborator of mine, Ehsan, who I worked on Somersby with shared the same enthusiasm for the sport as me - it is so exciting for me to find people who feel equally as passionate about it as I do!
Recently I’ve found myself a new hobby in soundbaths, I tried a few classes last year and was completely hooked, there's something about being in the calm space and the ambience after a day of grading that allows me to completely switch off, I loved it so much in fact that I am now training to be a teacher in it which has been a great new learning experience for me!
For booking enquiries please contact: franky@okaystudio.co.uk
