Camelot by Proxy

CAMELOT BY PROXY is a short film written and directed by Jake Abraham.

The film follows J.R. Rosenburg, the governor of Texas, as he visits a death-row inmate on the night before her execution. Surrounded by competing voices, political pressure, and the weight of irreversible consequence, J.R. must decide whether this woman lives or dies.

As Cinematographer, my approach was rooted in a bold, high-contrast black-and-white aesthetic inspired by classic film noir. Jake and I wanted the imagery to feel heightened, precise, and morally charged, using hard light, deep shadow, controlled composition, and stark negative space to intensify the drama of a man confronting the personal cost of institutional power.

The film was photographed spherically on the ARRI Alexa LF with the Fujinon Premista zoom lens, shooting Open Gate in a 3:2 aspect ratio. This slightly taller frame, closer in spirit to classic 4:3 compositions, helped create a more formal, confrontational visual language suited to the prison setting and the moral claustrophobia of the story.

We shot inside an actual prison in Dallas, Texas, leaning into the institutional texture of the location: hard surfaces, oppressive architecture, practical overhead lighting, and rigid geometry. The Premista was chosen for its full-frame coverage, optical precision, and clean rendering, giving us a sharp digital negative that could be shaped into a more filmic black-and-white image in the grade. The film also relied on highly specific dolly and zoom movements, requiring exacting coordination between camera, blocking, and performance.

Drawing visual inspiration from RIPLEY, THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, and SCHINDLER’S LIST, CAMELOT BY PROXY builds a stark noir world of political power, moral tension, and dramatic visual contrast.

CAMELOT BY PROXY is currently in post-production.

DIRECTOR
Jake Abraham
PRODUCERS
Blaine Strickland
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Matthew Lynn