Cinematography and Lighting in the Shawshank Redemption
SHAWSHANK TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Check MateThe Cinematography and Lighting of The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 motion picture adapted and directed by Frank Darabont from a short story by Stephen King. This film is in the classical style combining elements of both formalism and realism. It also combines elements of the dramatic, escapist (prison break), and romantic genres. The film's symbolism is made apparent through the use of many techniques and elements, but the cinematography and lighting effects have especially important roles to play in this film. This paper will endeavor to illustrate a few of the ways that The Shawshank Redemption's cinematography and lighting help to make the film into cinematic art.
Classical Cinema
Frank Darabont and Roger Deakins (the film's cinematographer) have made a truly beautiful classical film. Classical film, of course, being a combination of realistic and formalistic styles gives us the best of both worlds. In The Shawshank Redemption, the use of long takes (realism), closes ups, and slow zooms (formalism) toward the characters make the story intimate enough to affect the audience.
One of the most striking uses of formalism in the film takes place when the "sisters" attack Andy for the first time. In that sequence, the characters are shot in silhouette. This effectively makes the attackers "inhuman." And the use of silhouette is repeated throughout the film. During the first night that Andy spends in Shawshank the guards savagely beat a crying prisoner. As they drag him from his cell, the guards are in silhouette. It is also interesting to note that we rarely see the guards' eyes. They are usually hidden by the rim of their hats. It is also important to note that the guards are often seen in groups of three or more and that they are shot from low angles for much of the film to give the impression that they are powerful.
Conversely, the prisoners are often shot from high angles, sometimes even
Check MateThe Cinematography and Lighting of The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 motion picture adapted and directed by Frank Darabont from a short story by Stephen King. This film is in the classical style combining elements of both formalism and realism. It also combines elements of the dramatic, escapist (prison break), and romantic genres. The film's symbolism is made apparent through the use of many techniques and elements, but the cinematography and lighting effects have especially important roles to play in this film. This paper will endeavor to illustrate a few of the ways that The Shawshank Redemption's cinematography and lighting help to make the film into cinematic art.
Classical Cinema
Frank Darabont and Roger Deakins (the film's cinematographer) have made a truly beautiful classical film. Classical film, of course, being a combination of realistic and formalistic styles gives us the best of both worlds. In The Shawshank Redemption, the use of long takes (realism), closes ups, and slow zooms (formalism) toward the characters make the story intimate enough to affect the audience.
One of the most striking uses of formalism in the film takes place when the "sisters" attack Andy for the first time. In that sequence, the characters are shot in silhouette. This effectively makes the attackers "inhuman." And the use of silhouette is repeated throughout the film. During the first night that Andy spends in Shawshank the guards savagely beat a crying prisoner. As they drag him from his cell, the guards are in silhouette. It is also interesting to note that we rarely see the guards' eyes. They are usually hidden by the rim of their hats. It is also important to note that the guards are often seen in groups of three or more and that they are shot from low angles for much of the film to give the impression that they are powerful.
Conversely, the prisoners are often shot from high angles, sometimes even