These are references from renaissance art and in this case I am using them to reference the greater meaning in the picture told by purposeful placement of objects in the background and symbolism. In the scene when Wendy is walking backwards up the stairs she is walking into the warmer light created by the chandelier – but what the light also does is create a yellow halo above her head as she gets to the top. The shot then cuts back to Jack who is lower on the stairs and still in the bluer light. Above his head is a bigger dark unlit chandelier that also looks like a huge crown. My second reference shows knights dressed for battle. Their helmets are very large and decorative and aim to instil fear in their opponents. Once they are dressed for battle they are committed and when Jack reaches the top of the stairs and the giant iron chandelier rests on his head, there is no going back for Wendy who has lost the husband she once knew. Wendy’s crown is more like a halo like the picture in the first reference. In this picture the halo represents holiness and innocence as Mary and the angels all have halos above their heads. The reference images aim to show the contrast between good and bad or innocent and evil. I would give references to the set designers telling them I wanted the art design to reflect the mental state of the characters and the idea would be helped by careful camera framing.
The Shining 