The True Case of Jack the Ripper by Andrei Kovalev: a man holds a straight razor to his own jaw in a gritty close-up.

The True Case of Jack the Ripper

In October 2019, Soundstream commissioned me to produce a short promo video for its new audio play, The True Case of Jack the Ripper.

Split frame: a man in a suit and hat beside an early 20th-century police photograph of a woman in the same pose.

Split frame: a man in a suit and hat beside an early 20th-century police photograph of a woman in the same pose.

The inspiration came from early 20th-century photographs of detained criminals.

Behind the scenes: the crew sets up the camera while an actress in a long coat sits on a draped stool.

Behind the scenes: the crew sets up the camera while an actress in a long coat sits on a draped stool.

A dishevelled man in a white shirt glares in front of a wall covered in white scribbled symbols. — The True Case of Jack the Ripper, 2019. Produced and directed by Andrei Kovalev

A man in a long brown coat holds a ring of keys as white scribbles trail across the floor.

A woman’s face in close-up, white scribbles circling one eye.

A man in a leather apron clutches his head beside a drawn measuring scale.

A bearded man in a top hat grins and grips a walking cane.

A woman in a long coat cradles a pale bundle, tangled in white scribbles.

A dishevelled man in a white shirt glares in front of a wall covered in white scribbled symbols.

A man in a top hat and long coat leans on a cane and gestures towards a drawn squiggle.

A grinning man behind white prison bars drawn over his face.

A man with a curled moustache holds an old blade to his cheek.

A man in a waistcoat stands with arms down, drawn scissors in both hands.

A pale woman with blank, clouded eyes, a white line drawn down her face.

A dishevelled man in a dark coat looks down, a line of scribbled script beside him.

A man in a long brown coat holds a ring of keys as white scribbles trail across the floor.

A woman’s face in close-up, white scribbles circling one eye.

A man in a leather apron clutches his head beside a drawn measuring scale.

A bearded man in a top hat grins and grips a walking cane.

A woman in a long coat cradles a pale bundle, tangled in white scribbles.

A dishevelled man in a white shirt glares in front of a wall covered in white scribbled symbols.

A man in a top hat and long coat leans on a cane and gestures towards a drawn squiggle.

A grinning man behind white prison bars drawn over his face.

A man with a curled moustache holds an old blade to his cheek.

A man in a waistcoat stands with arms down, drawn scissors in both hands.

A pale woman with blank, clouded eyes, a white line drawn down her face.

A dishevelled man in a dark coat looks down, a line of scribbled script beside him.

Telegram sticker pack: 20 frames of the cast pulling faces, in a grid.

Telegram sticker pack: 20 frames of the cast pulling faces, in a grid.

Some frames from the video ended up as a Telegram sticker pack →

Production crew

Cast: Kristina Kryzhanovskaya, Jan Gakharmanov, Johann Nikadimus, Vladimir Tilinin, Roman Shaliapin · Camera: Nikita Goryachkin · Graphics: Oleg Paschenko · Sound design: Olga Lopina · Assistants: Timur Ivanov, Serge Longray · Assistant DoP: Mark Miller · BTS video and photography: Elina Wexler · Gaffer: Roman Matveev · Producers: Polina Efremenko, Anna Musatova, Kristina Kryzhanovskaya · Special thanks to Infundibulum/Onsitsa for help with the costumes

Behind the scenes: the actor in the top hat smiles past the film camera, cane in hand.

Behind the scenes: the actor in the top hat and long coat stands between light stands.

Behind the scenes: the crew checks the camera while an actor in a waistcoat sits waiting.

Behind the scenes: an actor in a blood-spattered white coat reads from a clipboard in front of the camera.

Behind the scenes: an actress sits by the camera on its slider, the crew around her.

Behind the scenes: the actor in the leather apron stands under a large diffusion screen.

Behind the scenes: the actor in the top hat smiles past the film camera, cane in hand.

Behind the scenes: the actor in the top hat and long coat stands between light stands.

Behind the scenes: the crew checks the camera while an actor in a waistcoat sits waiting.

Behind the scenes: an actor in a blood-spattered white coat reads from a clipboard in front of the camera.

Behind the scenes: an actress sits by the camera on its slider, the crew around her.

Behind the scenes: the actor in the leather apron stands under a large diffusion screen.

More of my theatre work →
More of my film work →