{"id":38831,"date":"2025-02-03T02:12:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T10:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/?p=38831"},"modified":"2025-02-03T02:12:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T10:12:51","slug":"matt-ninaber-talks-knights-and-witches-and-demons-oh-my-and-more-in-the-making-of-a-knights-war-exclusive-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/interviews\/interview-exclusives\/matt-ninaber-talks-knights-and-witches-and-demons-oh-my-and-more-in-the-making-of-a-knights-war-exclusive-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"MATT NINABER talks knights and witches and demons (oh my!) and more in the making of A KNIGHT’S WAR – Exclusive Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

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An exclusive in-depth interview with the multi-faceted director\/writer\/editor\/actor MATTHEW NINABER discussing the atmospheric and immersive period piece, A KNIGHT’S WAR.\u00a0 It’s about time we see a knight in shining armor again!<\/p>\n

SYNOPSIS:\u00a0 Bhodie, a knight born of questionable lineage yet bound by an unshakeable code, embarks on a daunting quest to rescue the tainted soul of the chosen one from the depths of the fallen realm. Negotiating a Faustian pact with the enigmatic gatekeeper of this infernal domain, Bhodie embarks on his own Odyssey, confronting a gauntlet of trials, battling witches, demons, barbarians, and the unforgiving landscape of hell itself. However, his resolve wavers as he discovers the true nature of the chosen one’s corruption \u2013 her return to the mortal realm threatens to unleash chaos and herald the resurgence of ancient gods. Faced with this moral dilemma, Bhodie must navigate the treacherous path between duty and the greater good, knowing that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.<\/em><\/p>\n

The fourth collaboration from the Ninaber brothers \u2013\u00a0 director and co-writer MATT NINABER and co-writer Jeremy Ninaber – A KNIGHT’S WAR stars Jeremy Ninaber as Bhodie, Kristen Kaster as Avalon, Shane Nicely as The Gatekeeper, and Matt Ninaber as The Invoker.\u00a0 Matt also serves as editor on the film.<\/p>\n

Energetic and enthusiastic, MATT NINABER is a joy to speak with.\u00a0 He is passionate about filmmaking and particularly A KNIGHT’S WAR, a film that he and his brother Jeremy dreamt of making since childhood thanks to their shared love of medieval tales, Old World lore, and knights of olde.\u00a0 Significant with A KNIGHT’S WAR is that the film is “hand made” as all sets were built by hand thanks to not only Matt and Jeremy, but their brother, production designer Ralph Ninaber.\u00a0 In fact, a good portion of the film was shot in Matt’s backyard where the castle you see in the film was built and still stands (hopefully for use in a sequel!).\u00a0 A fun factoid is that the castle is made of foam!<\/p>\n

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As Matt and I settled into our discussion, much of the conversation centered around the visuals and the atmosphere of the film.\u00a0 One of the wonderful cinematic aspects of medieval storytelling such as A KNIGHT’S WAR is that there are horror elements incorporated into inspirational legends which make for beautiful imagery when the story being told is in the hands of the right filmmaker.\u00a0 Matt Ninaber is the right filmmaker for this story and finds the perfect blend of swords and knights of olde with bloody fantastical legends and inky blue black torch-lit nights.<\/p>\n

Drawing inspiration for the story from the origins of Lilith and other medieval lore including demons and otherwordly beliefs, it was important to Matt that the setting be transportive, immersing the audience in time and place.\u00a0 The production design, set decor, and cinematography were meticulously planned, with a focus on creating a detailed, lived-in world. Working with cinematographer Brent Tremain, the film’s visual grammar was developed through extensive camera tests, using real flames and vintage lenses. Adding to this world are the performances by Jeremy Ninaber and Kristen Kaster who trained for months before filming and performed their own stunts, using real swords. Sean Croley’s score complemented the story and characters effectively.<\/p>\n