Prepping files first light for hand off to an editor help needed.

Hi group, I have a dit business until this year it's been for still photographers. Now I've had to switch and move into video. For my own editing jobs, I have no problems prepping files, but I'm working with a very demanding director. He was pissed off that my first light was too "final" looking and now I have to start over. I'm now making the files flatter and basically low saturation but color corrected. To me, the files looks a bit crappy but on the scope they are within range and with saturation and some masking on the high contrast shots (both sky, and indoor with computer screens) I think the files are ok.

Curious if anyone can point me to a reference website or video or something that can confirm I'm taking the right path here. The director is an ass always thinks my color sucks etc. yet offers no real assistance on what he wants and never replies to my sample color approvals. Basically a no win situation.... I'm asking you for some help if possible. Thanks DF

One light or first light are from an old terminology but this Primary grading of the original media usually affects all of the frame (no secondaries) and should have these simple objectives

Maximizing the media by establishing the right contrast. (No lost of captured range)
Color balancing faithful to the original cinematography. (white balance if pertinent or better colorchecker chart in specs)
Matching of all shots of a same scene angle.(usually using skin tones)
Respect the intentions of the original lighting for the shots.(no intensification)

so no looks, colorizing at this point

my two cents

Thanks so much,

That's what I did originally, but it had a little more color/sat. you know pleasing.... so now I made it less saturated (log-ish) and kept the dynamic range in there....

I don't love it this way though.... but a lot of the stuff was run and gun (it was a secret gov. security project) we didn't have a location list or even an address we had to caravan at 4am everyday and drive 200 miles round trip it was really weird and stupid.... Caused me a lot of time doing this crap... 5 days of shooting but 18 hours day so it's really a 9 day shoot.