For the fifth session of what they called "The Via Crucis of Camille," Jac kept the stage design identical to their last shoot. Camille wore a nearly identical garment.
Highly satisfied with the results of their previous production, Jac knew her performance had been as remarkable as ever. While he trusted her talent entirely, he wanted to repeat the setup with only minor variations, giving her a chance to truly perfect the scene.
Yet, Jac remained surprised that the project was moving forward at all, given their complicated personal circumstances. He secretly worried that Camille might grow tired of the emotional weight and walk away for good. Instead, as she prepared to throw herself back onto her new experience on the cross, she paused to ask for deeper insight into her character.
For this session, Jac sought to inspire her with what he called the defiance of Valeria.
Valeria was not born a slave. The Roman conquest of Thrace had stripped away her name, her family, and her freedom. When the great uprising ignited, she rose as one of Spartacus's fiercest lieutenants—commanding a vanguard of escaped slaves and provincial rebels who fiercely refused to bow to Rome.