Stefan Sonnenfeld is an American digital intermediate (DI) 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 (and more recently DI) 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 (Feature Film) for 300 in 2007 and was the recipient of the HPA Award Outstanding Color Grading (Commercial) 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
Year Title Director(s) Cinematographer(s) Editor(s) Roles Other notes1998Rush HourBrett RatnerAdam GreenbergMark HelfrichCompany 3 Film to Tape Transfer SupervisorLaser Pacific Film to Tape Transfer Colorist: Mike Sowa1999Being John MalkovichSpike JonzeLance AcordEric ZumbrunnenVideotape Colorist, Company 3Color Timing: David Orr, Gloria Kaiser 2000Gone in 60 SecondsDominic SenaPaul CameronRoger Barton, Chris Lebenzon, Thomas Muldoon Additional Editor: Joel NegronColorist, Company 3Color Timer: Bob KaiserThe CellTarsem SinghPaul LauferRobert Duffy, Paul RubellColorist Deluxe Color Timer: Jim PassonJoint collaboration between Company 3, Deluxe and Toybox Toybox Senior Colorist: Gary Chuntz 2001Pearl HarborMichael BayJohn SchwartzmanRoger Barton, Mark Goldblatt, Chris Lebenzon, Steven Rosenblum Additional Editor: Jim MayDigital Color TimerColor Timer: Bob KaiserSpy GameTony ScottDan MindelChristian WagnerDigital Telecine ColoristAssistant Colorists: Shane Harris, Mark Todd OsborneBlack Hawk DownRidley ScottSławomir IdziakPietro ScaliaDigital Color TimerColor Timer: Bob Kaiser Colorist (2019 Remaster): Stephen Nakamura 2003Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlGore VerbinskiDariusz WolskiCraig Wood, Stephen E. Rivkin, Arthur SchmidtCompany 3 Digital Color TimerTechnique Digital Film Colorist: Stephen Nakamura Technique Additional Digital Film Colorist: Tony DustinBad Boys IIMichael BayAmir MokriMark Goldblatt, Thomas A. Muldoon, Roger Barton Additional Editor: Jason HellmannDigital Colorist/Telecine ColoristColor Timer: Robert Kaiser Company 3 Assistant Colorists: Mark Todd Osborne, Shane HarrisLost in TranslationSofia CoppolaLance AcordSarah FlackColorist The Texas Chainsaw MassacreMarcus NispelDaniel PearlGlen ScantleburyColorist (with John Zaik) 2004Man on FireTony ScottPaul CameronChristian Wagner Additional Editor: Robert DuffyExecutive Producer/ColoristAssistant Colorist: Shane Harris Additional Colorist: Mark Todd OsborneKing ArthurAntoine FuquaSlawomir IdziakConrad Buff, Jamie PearsonExecutive ProducerDigital Intermediate completed at One Post in London Colorist: Rob PizzeyCollateralMichael MannDion Beebe, Paul CameronJim Miller, Paul RubellCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristThe HungerTony ScottStephen GoldblattPamela Power, Peter HonessDigital Remaster ColoristOriginally released in 1983. Remastered in 2004 for DVD releaseAfter the SunsetBrett RatnerDante SpinottiMark HelfrichCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristNational TreasureJon TurteltaubCaleb DeschanelWilliam GoldenbergCompany 3 Color TimerTechnicolor Color Timer: Stephen Nakamura Company 3 Assistant Color Timer: Mark Todd Osborne 2005The Amityville HorrorAndrew DouglasPeter Lyons CollisterRoger Barton, Christian WagnerCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristWar of the WorldsSteven SpielbergJanusz KamińskiMichael KahnColor Timer: Dale GrahnThe IslandMichael BayMauro FiorePaul Rubell, Christian WagnerExecutive Producer and ColoristColor Assistant/Dailies Colorist: Mark Todd Osborne DI Assistants: Nick Hasson, Christopher ReichelCapoteBennett MillerJohn BarrChristopher TellefsenColorist (with Mark Todd Osborne)Technicolor Color Coordinator: Joey Violante Color Timer: Fred HeidDominoTony ScottDan MindelWilliam Goldenberg, Christian WagnerCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristEFilm Lab Color Timer: Michael HatzerThe Weather ManGore VerbinskiPhedon PapamichaelCraig WoodExecutive Producer / ColoristAssistant / Dailies Colorist: Mark Todd Osborne Digital Cinema Consultant: Steven B. Cohen 2006Underworld: EvolutionLen WisemanSimon DugganNicolas de TothCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Siggy FerstlGlory RoadJames GartnerJeffrey Kimball, John ToonJason Hellmann, John WrightExecutive Producer / ColoristMission: Impossible IIIJ. J. AbramsDan MindelMaryann Brandon, Mary Jo MarkeyX-Men: The Last StandBrett RatnerDante SpinottiMark Helfrich, Julia Wong, Mark GoldblattPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestGore VerbinskiDariusz WolskiCraig Wood, Stephen E. RivkinMiami ViceMichael MannDion BeebeWilliam Goldenberg, Paul RubellOn-Line Editor: Rob Doolittle Color Timer: Kurt SmithInvincibleEricson CoreGerald B. GreenbergGridiron GangPhil JoanouJeff CutterJoel NegronThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The BeginningJonathan LiebesmanLukas EttlinJonathan ChibnallExecutive Producer and ColoristDailies Colorist: John Zaik Additional Colorists: Mark Todd Osborne, Jimmy Tom, Joe PestanaDéjà VuTony ScottPaul CameronChris LebenzonDreamgirlsBill CondonTobias SchliesslerVirginia KatzTechnicolor Preview Colorist: Stephen Nakamura 2007300Zack SnyderLarry FongWilliam HoyProducer/ColoristDigital Intermediate Producer: Des Carey HPA Award – Best Color Grading (Feature Film)The HitcherDave MeyersJames HawkinsonJim MayExecutive Producer/ColoristAdditional Colorist/Dailies Colorist: John ZaikShooterAntoine FuquaPeter Menzies Jr.Conrad Buff & Eric SearsAssistant Colorist: Jimmy Tom Color Timer: Jim PassonBlades of GloryWill Speck and Josh GordonStefan CzapskyRichard PearsonExecutive ProducerDI Colorist: Sean Coleman Film Colorist: Jim PassonPirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndGore VerbinskiDariusz WolskiCraig Wood, Stephen E. Rivkin Additional Editor: Daniel P. HanleyExecutive Producer/ColoristDigital Intermediate Assistant: Dan Goslee Dailies Colorists: Mark Todd Osborne, Adrian DeLudeTransformersMichael BayMitchell AmundsenPaul Rubell, Glen Scantlebury, Thomas Muldoon Additional Editors: John Murray, Todd E. MillerDailies Colorist: Adrian DeLude DI Assists: Will Harris, Dan GosleeRush Hour 3Brett RatnerJ. Michael MuroMark Helfrich, Don Zimmerman, Dean ZimmermanExecutive Producer for Company 3/ColoristDigital Intermediate Supervisors: Christine Carr, Nick Monton EFilm Color Timer: Jim PassonInto the WildSean PennEric GautierJay CassidyAdditional Colorist: Adrian DeLude Deluxe Color Timer: Chris ReganMr. WoodcockCraig Gillespie, David DobkinTami ReikerAlan BaumgartenThe Game PlanAndy FickmanGreg GardinerMichael JablowCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristAdditional Colorist: Adrian DeLude Digital Intermediate Assistants: Todd Crawford, Jorge TanakaSlipstreamAnthony HopkinsDante SpinottiMichael R. MillerExecutive Producer for Company 3/ColoristAdditional Colorists: Dave Francis, Mark Todd OsborneFred ClausDavid DobkinRemi AdefarasinMark LivolsiColorist/Digital Intermediate HOD (with Rob Pizzey (Color) & Patrick Malone (HOD))Digital Intermediate completed at both CO3 in Los Angeles & One Post in London Digital Intermediate Technical Director: Laurent TreherneSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetTim BurtonDariusz WolskiChris LebenzonExecutive Producer for Company 3/Colorist Additional Colorist: Rob PizzeyDigital Intermediate Colorist: Stuart Fyvie Digital Intermediate completed at One Post (London), Company 3 (Los Angeles) & Lipsync PostNational Treasure: Book of SecretsJon TurteltaubJohn Schwartzman, Amir MokriWilliam Goldenberg, David RennieExecutive Producer/ColoristColor Timer: Kurt Smith Dailies Colorist: Mark Todd Osborne 2008CloverfieldMatt ReevesMichael BonvillainKevin StittUntraceableGregory HoblitAnastas MichosDavid RosenbloomCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Siggy FerstlGreener MountainsLee Shallat ChemelGreg HarringtonKristina Wisener, Kristina Trirogoff Co-Editor: Alex HepburnTelecine ArtistDeceptionMarcel LangeneggerDante SpinottiDouglas Crise, Christian WagnerCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon EmperorRob CohenSimon DugganJoel Negron, Kelly MatsumotoExecutive Producer/ColoristDailies Colorists: Mark Todd Osborne, Dave Lee Dailies Assistant: Joe PestanaThe Hurt LockerKathryn BigelowBarry AckroydBob Murawski & Chris InnisCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Stephen NakamuraEagle EyeD. J. CarusoDariusz WolskiJim PageColoristFlash of GeniusMarc AbrahamDante SpinottiJill SavittWhat Just HappenedBarry LevinsonStéphane FontaineHank CorwinBody of LiesRidley ScottAlexander WittPietro ScaliaCO3 Executive ProducerColorist: Stephen Nakamura2009The UnbornDavid S. GoyerJames HawkinsonJeff BetancourtColoristHe's Just Not That Into YouKen KwapisJohn BaileyCara SilvermanDigital Intermediate ColoristDigital Intermediate Supervisor: Erik Rogers EFilm Film Color Timer: Harry MullerTwo LoversJames GrayJoaquin Baca-AsayJohn AxelradCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristConfessions of a ShopaholicP. J. HoganJo WillemsWilliam GoldenbergFriday the 13thMarcus NispelDaniel PearlKen Blackwell Additional Editor: Glen ScantleburyCompany 3 Executive Producer/ColoristCompany 3 DI Assists: Dan Goslee, James Cody Baker, Joe Pestana Technicolor Color Timer: Steve SheridanWatchmenZack SnyderLarry FongWilliam HoyProducer/ColoristTelecine Assist: John Brandon Digital Intermediate Producer: Des CareyHorsemenJonas ÅkerlundEric BromsJim May, Todd E. MillerCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristVisual Effects & Digital Intermediate by Company 3Fast & Furious 4Justin LinAmir MokriFred Raskin, Christian WagnerExecutive Producer/ColoristDI Producer: Des Carey 2019 HDR Remaster Colorist: Andre RivasDrag Me to HellSam RaimiPeter DemingBob MurawskiExecutive ProducerColorist: Stephen Nakamura DI Assistants: Jeremiah Morey, Dan GosleeStar TrekJ. J. AbramsDan MindelMaryann Brandon, Mary Jo MarkeyExecutive Producer for Company 3/ColoristDigital Intermediate Assist: James Cody Baker FotoKem Video Dailies Colorist: Greg CurryTerminator SalvationJoseph McGinty NicholShane HurlbutConrad BuffThe Taking of Pelham 123Tony ScottTobias SchliesslerChris LebenzonTransformers: Revenge of the FallenMichael BayBen SeresinRoger Barton, Paul Rubell, Joel Negron, Thomas Muldoon Additional Editor: Glen ScantleburyCO3 Executive Producer/Colorist Digital Intermediate Assists: James Cody Baker, Dan GosleeDailies Colorist: Adrian Delude Dailies Assist: Brandon MikulkaPublic EnemiesMichael MannDante SpinottiPaul Rubell, Jeffrey FordCO3 Executive Producer/ColoristG-ForceHoyt YeatmanBojan BazelliJason Hellmann, Mark GoldblattDI Assist: James Cody Baker