From the Film Maker...

Gerrit van Honthorst was a student of Caravaggio, a favourite with cinematographers for his skilful use of a single light source and deep shadows. In this painting I like the simple yet effective use of candle light and mimicked it with a single light source from above, like modern interrogation scenes in action movies.

I feel much is hidden in the painting and used darkness as a means of adding to the story. The background of the painting hints at other people in the room, some just visible. I had the lights go off during the fight scene and used 'gun flashes' to illuminate a single frame.

My film also deals with isolation and escape. The narrative I chose was that of an intense interrogation. Before Christ was beaten and crucified by the Romans, he fell prey to the accusations and laws of his own people. In my film the character of John Canton does not sacrifice himself, rather he escapes and turns the tables.

The pose that most stuck with me was that of the High Priest. Not his physical posing, but the way in which he is painted leaning into the light. I tried to recreate that by having my actor Simon Collins walk into silhouette and then lean into the top light to mimic the candle's effect.
C. S. Schneider