Sitting on the film rights to Stephen King’s story Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Frank Darabont later wowed the world with his screenplay and directing the film. The release to the masses on September 23, 1994 was preceded by a small preview audience on September 10, 1994 for a preview. They had not been told it was Stephen King and fell in love with it even though it was recorded in Ohio instead of Maine. Hesitant audiences became fans for life.
Based on a psychological study of character and friendship, Shawshank Redemption compels old and young audiences alike to connect the average person with empathy and humanity. Set in 1946 to 1967, the film doesn’t hold back when it comes to honesty in the historical aspects of the brutality in which prisoners lived, breathed, and starved under. Without music and books for the soul, humans are living dead with just surviving on food and water. (25 years ago, 'The Shawshank Redemption' was released. Here was our original review, 2021) We know the truth of the crimes the innocent and guilty criminals were serving time because the characters openly relayed even the nitty gruesome details.
When the scrutiny of mise-en-scène is applied, generations of film critics, producers, directors, actors, film crew, and audiences all agree that Shawshank redemption creates a higher standard when it comes to writing, lighting, acting, costumes, sets, editing ,and cinematography.
Shawshank Redemption
Writing
People rave about high quality films because actors successfully dive deep into the characters from scripts containing powerful, inspirational, heart tugging words. Even if an actor is well known, adored, or worshiped, there is no love or pretending a poor written script can be admired. Shawshank Redemption’s own writer and director suggested that the film crashed financially at the box office because people longed to avoid seeing two inspirational actors deliver an emotional challenging story. Audiences had come to rely on the actors to lift their spirits with humor. (Why The Shawshank Redemption Failed At The Box Office, According To Frank Darabont, 2021)
Although Frank Darabont skipped learning his craft in college, he was known for his drive and discovering hidden paths to teach and better himself, his talents and his writing. He spent countless hours in front of the typewriter, working on perfecting every detail. Without relying on hope for a quick break or a get rich scheme, he sat and labored with all his heart, soul, and mind. (Frank Darabont on The Shawshank Redemption, 2021) However, he wrote and approved spreading hope because it made it to the big screen. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and not good thing ever dies.” Ellis Boyd ‘Red’Redding, Shawshank Redemption. The book, film and script all focus on prison and the emotional walls they create. Red was also quoted as saying, “These walls are funny. First you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.” There has always been a movement to increase music, education, and life inside the walls of a prison. Movies about the hardships of prison life also touch the lives of those who are not behind the walls. Influential and talented writers reach a greater audience if the story and character development doesn’t just fit the shoes of the small group the plot revolves around. Various people should be able to connect with different characters in a story no matter whether they have lived in the shoes of that character or not. When it comes to living through hardships whether it is prison or not, the soul is needed to be kept in tack. In the film, Andy Dufresne encouraged, “That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you.” Each writer has a unique way of observing and describing people, but the words stick in your head when writers describe a person or a character out of the ordinary. When describing Andy, Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding said, “That tall drink of water with the silver spoon up his ass.”
Current films and plays do not succeed or make it to the board if they do not follow the basic three-act structure, diving a story into three parts: Setup, Confrontation and the Resolution. First we are introduced to Red, his gang, Andy and those that control when they eat, drink, defecate and the keys to the strings of their lives. Then, several complications, confrontations and conflicts erupt with rape, violence and injustice, followed by good and bad resolutions. By the end of the story, the audience falls in love with all the characters hoping for a huge prison break, but they are satisfied that Red and Andy are reunited and have a better chance at life, health, liberty and their pursuit of happiness. Acting out the writing is like the flour in the cake or the meat of the film, but lighting flavors the cake with sugar.
Lighting
When properly using enough light in film, the audience is able to physically identify or emotionally connect with the characters in each scene. Natural lighting started in the film industry long before sound and color, however producers and directors use the source instead of Key, Fill, Backlight, Sidelight, Practical, Bounce, Soft, Hard key and Low Key because natural lighting can increase the psychological impact of the audiences. Shawshank Redemption immediately sucked the audience into the minds of the main characters with the frequent usage of natural lighting. (Best, Dark rooms and long shadows cast spells on the actors and the viewers. The bars held the prisoners in and the lighting trapped the audiences in their minds. They didn’t sidestep or step over eggshells, the producers broke the strengths and weaknesses of all. The film does focus on the drab color schemes of a 1950’s prison, but there is still laughter. (Best, 2021) Although there were times the producers used low-key lighting, the natural lighting accomplished the simple but difficult task of placing the viewer into the film as though they lived through it themselves. The shadows make the characters appear as depressed, angry, content, powerful as they acted.
Acting.
After watching it a second time, the subtle facial expressions can be noticed because the audience understands the flashback at the climax. The actor for Andy perfectly portrayed his face just as petrified as his 4 limbs when the guards were searching for contraband. In the moment, the viewers didn’t comprehend the first time that Andy was deeply worried about them discovering his escape tunnel. The second time its viewed, the audience can see the eye moments reflecting the inner thoughts of a terrified and praying man. Even the insignificant actors gave the best performance of their lifetime. Morgan Freeman told his agent he believed in the script and would play any character they gave him. He was shocked but happy that the film team wanted him to play Red. Morgan continues to this day to hate the film’s shortened title; Shawshank Redemption. (Morgan Freeman’s one complaint about The Shawshank Redemption, 2021) Even if the actors produce great skills or talents, the costumes are the key ingredient to selling the act.
Costumes
The viewers might initially expect the typical orange or white stripped pajamas depicted in a prisoner movie, but they become accustomed to the film’s costumes including the police uniforms, prisoner uniforms, and casual clothing. The garb reflects the consistency of historically accuracy with the setting of the film and location of the story in the timeline. The clothes were not dirty, worn, muddy, wet or torn unless they complimented the plot. Suits were nice and shoes were shined according to reality. I personally think hair cuts are a part of costume. The haircuts fit the characters accents. The country man, Heywood’s haircut and his accent were icing on the cake of his character. Those wearing striped prisoner suits would not prance around on a stage meant for a ballerina, but they would need to look like they belonged in a set appearing exactly like a prison.
Sets.
Somehow the eye is tricked into thinking that Ohio is really Maine when it comes to the movie, Shawshank Redemption. The prison set looks and feels like a real one because the majority of the movie was filmed on location at the Ohio State Reformatory or the Mansfield Reformatory, located in Mansfield, Ohio four years after prison closed down operations. Originally built in 1886, it continues to fascinate those with a love for older architect structures. The Pugh Cabin housed a beautiful but morbid setting for the murder of Andy’s wife and her lover. The town Upper Sandusky hosted the Wyandot Courthouse for Andy’s trial and the location for the woodwork shop of ‘Shawshank Prison’. Many more locations provided historically accurate buildings on the interior and exterior to give it a natural feel to the story. (Filming Locations for Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption (1994), with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, around Mansfield, Ohio., 2021) Although there might be wear and tear to the buildings today, they were pristine in the day the film was shot. Careful editing takes an interior of one building and makes the audience feel like they are located in a building in a faraway town with a different exterior.
Editing
Timing, sequencing, jump cuts, and camera angles are important for creating a thriller. There’s no need for smash cuts, but they did use some action and match cuts to increase the heart pumping along with the psychological thrill. The action was more in the hearts and heads of the viewers and characters, so the editing process establishes where pertinent characters stood in a room, what they touched and who they interacted with verbally or physically. Studying humanity, empathy and
Cinematography.
The art of photography and visual storytelling in a motion picture comprises all on-screen visual elements. Lighting, composition, depth of field, filtration, camera motion, camera angles, film selection, framing, focus, color, exposure, lens choices, and the camera zooming all make Shawshank Redemption a classic. Simple sometimes creates the most powerful effects when it comes to playing with the viewers emotions. The film's legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins' said, "There's nothing worse than an ostentatious shot," Deakins argues. "Or some lighting that draws attention to itself, and you might go, 'Oh, wow, that's spectacular.' Or that spectacular shot, a big crane move, or something. But it's not necessarily right for the film — you jump out, you think about the surface, and you don't stay in there with the characters and the story." (25 years ago, 'The Shawshank Redemption' was released. Here was our original review, 2021)
Conclusion.
Research for this film is limited based on time and energy because when it comes to studying mise en scene, perspective is everything. Not one person can emphasize every aspect of this movie. Different authors and critics see and understand things to the miniscule detail depending on their area of expertise. Writers will focus on the words, musicians will focus on the music, editors on the editing and so forth. I have a passion for writing so I concentrated most on writing. However, I found how fascinating it was when researching and seeing what everyone else said. This project isn’t complete because I wasn’t to read more about the little details in making of films, starting with Shawshank redemption. I look forward to reading and watching more than I already have included. This research project has accomplished your goal because now I am focusing on every aspect and detail of mise en scene.
References
St Louis Post Dispatch. 2021. 25 years ago, 'The Shawshank Redemption' was released. Here was our original review. [online] Available at: <https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/25-years-ago-the-shawshank-redemption-was-released-here-was-our-original-review/article_dd7d2be9-bc8d-5611-900d-80e6c0786f55.html> [Accessed 22 February 2021].
CINEMABLEND. 2021. Why The Shawshank Redemption Failed At The Box Office, According To Frank Darabont. [online] Available at: <https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1559680/why-the-shawshank-redemption-failed-at-the-box-office-according-to-frank-darabont> [Accessed 22 February 2021].
Creative Screenwriting. 2021. Frank Darabont on The Shawshank Redemption. [online] Available at: <https://creativescreenwriting.com/frank-darabont-on-the-shawshank-redemption/> [Accessed 22 February 2021].
Best, M., 2021. Looking Back – The Cinematography of The Shawshank Redemption – Firewalker TV. [online] Firewalker.tv. Available at: <https://www.firewalker.tv/looking-back-the-cinematography-of-shawshank-redemption/> [Accessed 23 February 2021].
NewsComAu. 2021. Morgan Freeman’s one complaint about The Shawshank Redemption. [online] Available at: <https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/morgan-freemans-one-complaint-about-the-shawshank-redemption/news-story/ffcb47fd4c5c9a95d4a1db3c186f6d56> [Accessed 23 February 2021].
The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. 2021. Filming Locations for Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption (1994), with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, around Mansfield, Ohio.. [online] Available at: <https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/Shawshank-Redemption.php> [Accessed 23 February 2021].
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