Interview: Sylvain Reynard talks Gabriel’s Rapture movie, community

Filming is underway for Gabriel’s Rapture, the second book in Sylvain Reynard’s Gabriel Series. Tosca Musk, the cast and the rest of the Passionflix crew have descended upon Italy for the ever-important scenes in Florence, and the excitement for the project builds with every social media post from the set. It seems like a great time to check in with Sylvain Reynard to see what the esteemed author thinks about it all.

If not for the pandemic, Passionflix would be wrapping up filming on the third book in the series, Gabriel’s Redemption, but instead they are just getting started on filming the Italian scenes from the second book. After Italy, production will move to Boston and that will complete filming; thankfully, the team was able to capture the Toronto scenes in early 2020 before the pandemic started.

Musk updated fans in a recent episode of the Passion Pod podcast that the first installment of Gabriel’s Rapture should arrive later this year, provided that filming is able to take place.

While fans await the arrival of Gabriel’s Rapture Part I, author Sylvain Reynard continues to interact with fans on social media, somehow managing to juggle Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to talk to fans all over the world. The author’s community of readers is strong, and they have come together over the course of the past year to support each other through these unprecedented times, a further testament to Reynard’s work and the influence it has on fans.

Sylvain Reynard on Gabriel’s Rapture, community and Providence

(Culturess) How would you describe Gabriel’s Rapture to someone who is just discovering the book after seeing Gabriel’s Inferno on Passionflix? What are the key themes in Rapture? 

(Sylvain Reynard) In “Rapture,” we see the continuation of Gabriel and Julianne’s relationship and how this new connection affects their academic careers, as well as their friendships and families. The story is very much based on Dante’s “Purgatorio,” and we see Julianne and Gabriel confronted with challenges and their own shortcomings. But just like Dante, I believe in Redemption. And so the trajectory of the novel is toward redemption and reconciliation.

Now that all three installments of Gabriel’s Inferno have come to life, what’s it like seeing work continue on Gabriel’s Rapture? Do you get to see any of the daily footage from the set, or pictures that might not be posted to social media, or are you like the rest of us as we await new pictures and video shared by Tosca, Melanie and Giulio?  

I’m fortunate to be included in just about everything and so I consulted on the script, and continue to consult on the locations, costumes, casting, etc. I’m grateful to have access behind the scenes and that Passionflix has been so inclusive. I’m not a film expert so I’ve trusted Passionflix to bring the books to life, knowing that they have readers in mind and that they stick close to the texts.  My trust has been well-chosen. The benefit to choosing an exceptional partner like Tosca is that I don’t have to micromanage the production. I can step back and watch the experts at work.

It has been a year since COVID-19 turned the world upside down, and Gabriel’s Inferno helped lots of people cope with the uncertainty as your community of readers came together in new ways to support each other while also celebrating this milestone of the Sylvain Reynard Cinematic Universe. Looking back, what was it like for you to have this momentous occasion in your life come to fruition in the middle of a global pandemic? 

In my writing and in my personal life, I have spent a lot of time thinking about suffering. The pandemic has been a time of trial and loss for the world. I think all of us have been affected by it.  I would not have chosen this outcome, for example that Giulio and Melanie had to forego the red carpet and the premiere. They worked so hard with the rest of the cast and the crew; they all deserved the accolades of a premiere. But with the world in lockdown and people suffering isolation came this tremendous opportunity to view the films at home and to forget about the pandemic for a little while. I believe in Providence and I can’t help but think that my partnership with Passionflix has continued to be blessed, even to the point of being able to have the films available worldwide during a pandemic. If we had had only theatre distribution, very few people would have been able to see the film. This has been so much better.

I know that Melanie Zanetti and Giulio Berruti have been preparing for Rapture for a while now, but imagine that Melanie and Giulio came to you for advice about Gabriel’s Rapture prior to filming. What advice would you give them about where Julianne and Gabriel are at this point in their story and what’s going on in their minds?

Fear plays an important role in the events of the novel. Gabriel and Julianne are new in their relationship and they are learning to trust one another. I think there are key moments when they allow fear to influence their decisions and this, of course, creates problems.

I have a feeling this is going to be a question we circle back to in future interviews, but as we look forward to Gabriel’s Rapture, which scenes are you most excited to see come to life?

There are many but I’m grateful Passionflix was given permission to film on location in Italy. Gabriel’s time on his own in Italy is very significant, along with the earlier and later scenes with Julianne. Florence is so beautiful. I think readers are going to enjoy it.

As always, we’re very grateful for Sylvain Reynard for taking the time to chat with us, and we look forward to more discussions as Gabriel’s Rapture continues filming.