The Bangkok Palette: Pete Williams on colour grading and his journey as a colourist

Campaign Brief Asia sat down with Pete Williams at AdFest to hear about shifts in the industry and how the colour world has adapted in Bangkok and the region. Williams is a highly experienced colourist who began his career at The Mill in London, working on award-winning campaigns for brands like PlayStation, Nike, and Mercedes. His four-season journey grading every episode of Spartacus in New Zealand refined his skills and solidified his reputation. Now based in Bangkok, Williams blends innovative technology with creative colour, continually pushing the limits of grading.

Pete Williams began his journey in the world of post-production as a tape operator at a post production house before joining The Mill in London. That invaluable introduction laid the technical foundation for his transition into color grading.

“I had the privilege of working on award-winning campaigns for brands like PlayStation, Nike, and Mercedes,” said Williams.

“Later, my path led me to New Zealand – a transformative period where I played a significant role on projects that redefined the boundaries of post-production.

One of his highlights from that era was grading every episode of the hit Spartacus TV show over four seasons.

“Being involved from the initial camera tests to evolving the looks, and finishing each episode with meticulous care, taught me the art of balancing creativity with stringent technical demands,” he said.

Moving on to Bangkok, he found himself immersed in a revitalizing and dynamic media landscape.

“The energy here is unlike anywhere I have been, the commercials are bold, hyper-real, and bursting with intense, vibrant colors. Adapting to the local creative ethos was both challenging and exhilarating. I had to get used to local preferences, such as the lighter, almost Westernized skin tones, which contrasted with the natural hues I’d been accustomed to.”

Williams said economic pressures in Asia also have shape the creative process; with budgets tightening and expectations climbing, remote grading has stretched workflows, turning what used to be quick approvals into multi-day collaborations.

He said in Bangkok’s lively scene, embracing new technology became essential to stay ahead.

“I’ve integrated AI tools into my workflow through DaVinci Resolve, developed by Blackmagic Design. The DaVinci Neural Engine leverages advanced machine learning to handle tasks like facial recognition, automatic mask tracking, and object detection.

“One tool I rely on heavily is facial recognition, which is able to auto track faces to enable them to manipulate the faces and smooth any blemishes and achieve the soft healthy stylised look.”

He said while these AI driven processes significantly accelerate his work, they don’t replace the human touch. In high-end projects, especially commercials where precision is everything, his own experience and creative instinct remain irreplaceable.

“AI, in my view, is a powerful assistant but the final creative decisions, imbued with emotion and personal insight, are firmly in my hands,” he said.

“Looking ahead, I’m embracing the evolving trends in Bangkok and the global market. Training the next generations on what I’ve learnt and how that balances the technology now available gives me great insight into each generation’s perspectives. I don’t see these shifts as obstacles, but rather as opportunities to further refine my craft and those around me.”