The Color Script is a critical pre-production document that maps out the emotional and narrative arc of the entire film using color and light. It is a sequence of small images or thumbnails, each representing a scene or sequence, with a specific color palette and lighting scheme assigned to it. It visually ensures the emotional flow is consistent.

The primary function of the color script is to guide the audience’s emotional response. For instance, key story moments—like a character’s lowest point—might be dominated by cool blues and low light, while moments of triumph might be saturated with warm yellows and high contrast. This prevents the lighting and mood from becoming monotonous or visually confusing.

The color script acts as the final visual reference for the lighting and compositing departments in post-production. It provides a non-negotiable standard for the mood and visual tone of every shot, ensuring that the final rendered image aligns with the director’s initial emotional intent, thereby tying the pre-production vision directly to the final product’s aesthetic quality.