Intro

The award winning film “The Shawshank Redemption” directed by Frank Darabont describes the experiences of a successful banker “Andrew Dufresne” to describe the theme of freedom inside Shawshank prison walls. By examining two scenes that Darabont constructed to represent the theme it is clear that the use of different camera angles lighting and sound helps the viewer develop an understanding of freedom in Shawshank prison.

“We sat and drank with the sun on our shoulders and felt like free men.” Director Frank Darabont opens the scene with a wide shot of the prisoners in the courtyard listening to an announcement the Warden has to present. The Warren offers a week’s work re-tarring the prisons roof, which is considered an incentive to the prisoners. “May is fine time to be working outside” exclaims Red. The wide camera angle expresses the inmates nature towards receiving opportunities, as they stand very stern in organised rows. The shot uses a cable camera to panoramically give a comprehensive view of as many inmates as possible. The wide shot gives the viewer a sense of mood from the scene throughout the shot, the prisoners are all fixated on the offer the Warren has. The shot then changes to a closeup of Andy and his friends looking at each other telepathically as their passion towards this opportunity boils. To give the audience a comprehensive understanding by using non diegetic sound, such as Red’s voice over lighting and camera angles to express how freedom can be grasped in such a deceptively harsh environment. Non diegetic sound performed by Red helps the viewer get a better understanding on what is goingon in the scene, as there is no diehgetic sounds to aid the purpose of the scene. So the narration helps the viewer understand what the prisoners are all thinking about the deal the Warren has to offer. The announcement is a break in the chain like repetitive life they experience in the Shawshank and any opportunity to separate from this chain is of value.  The techniques portray these ideas and show how freedom can be accessible in places where freedom is stripped from within, showing the viewer how these small stints of change all relate to finding freedom inside shawshank. Solicit actions find Andy and his friends tarring the very roof as described by the Warren. On the rooftop scene Darabont uses film techniques to express the consolation captain Hadley holds as he explains to the other guards overseeing Andy and co re-tarring. A whole shot is used in this situation to express the feeling of the other guards as they react to Hadley’s sympathetic comments about receiving an undervalued sum of money inherited from his rich brother who recently died.

Diegetic sound is used when Red gets the crew the job tarring the roof. This part of the scene opens with the guards talking very loudly which overrides the silence and tranquility of the prisoners re tarring. The sloshing noises of the prisoners brooms on the roof mellows out the unpleasant argument between Andy and the guards as he tries to convince captain Hadley that he’s not a scam. The director’s purpose is to conjoin two different situations in a scene and blend them together to show that Andy’s argument is more mellow than prisoners moping. The movie sound technique non diegetic sound (source outside story space).  “Red”, played by Morgan Freeman provides a subtle background sound to contest with the context of the scene, where the prisoners are chilled and drinking beers. It is used to illustrate the prisoners thoughts and help the viewer to understand the sense of freedom the prisoners felt. This scene is the beginning of Andy managing the Wardens Scams as the guards recomend his experties in finance. This can be seen in other movies such as ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ where the guards and the warden are corrupt aswell.

High key natural lighting is created by the sun which creates the theme of freedom as they are starved of of sunlight in Shawshank. It also makes the guards and prisoners seem equal for just one moment as they both share the same high key lighting. The director did this to show freedom cannot always be stripped from a man in Shawshank.

“I tell, you those voices soared. Higher and farther than than anyone in a gray place dares to dream” Director Frank Darabont opens the scene with a close up shot of Andy’s face as he examines the music record with great interest. Previously Andy has been sending letters to the government requests on reading material for a potential prison library, “It only took six years, from now i’ll write two letters a week”. The director used a close up shot of Andy examining the record that came with the donated reading material because it showed it meant something to Andy, as though it was something of great importance to him. This was the record he played over the prisons speaker system, genius in a way which he could share a moment of freedom with his fellow inmates. The shot places the viewer at an eye level shot infront of Andy to show his facial expressions and feelings towards finding the record. As the music is played through the speaker close up shots of the prisoners faces is used as they stand blankly staring at the speakers. The close up shot is moved panoramically from face to face then switches scenes from the courtyard to the workroom, showing the same impression on every man’s face. Over the top of this non diegetic sound is used to aid the message of the scene, by describing the music and every man’s thoughts. The non diegetic sound is voiced over by Red one of Andy’s friends who is used in the rooftop scene as non diegetic sound as well to aid the viewer on what the characters are feeling in the moment. Red played by Morgan Freeman is used in other films as a background narrator which presents him as “god” which represents the theme of freedom as god and freedom are connected, which on top of the different camera angles helps the viewer experience the importance of the scene to the prisoners, as the short stint of work outside is a sense of freedom to Andy and his inmates. This scene can also be related to Nelson Mandella, who was put in prison aswell, and could be decribed as god like because of the inspiriation quotes he came up with, such as “for to be free is not merely to cast of ones chains, but to in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”. This is relatable to what Red says as the non diegetic sound, “for the briefest moment every last man in shawshank felt free…”. Andy shared his way of freedom through music with every prisoner in Shawshank by playing it through every speaker, which is also relevant to Mandellas quote about sharing freedom.

Conclusion

The film “Shawshank Redemption” directed by Frank Darabont used techniques such as music, sound, lighting and camera angles to present the main theme of freedom. The director successfully used these techniques to not only present the main theme of freedom, but how even in a place like Shawshank prison, a small amount of freedom can benefit characters. Such as Andy in the music scene in which the last time he had heard music was 20 years ago. Darabont wanted the viewer to understand the importantance of how the music Andy payed over the speakers impacted the prisoners. By using non diegetic sound performed by Red as a voice over, it let the viewer experience what the prisoners were feeling abd thinking, as there was not much talking during the scene. Andy later on says “Thats the beauty of music. They cant get that from you.” Hinting the viewer that the music was a demonstration of freedom within Shawshank. The rooftop scene where for only a moment in time the guards and prisoners were treated equal and shared beer from the same bucket. In harsh environments like prisons, where freedom is stripped from a man, even a small change in routine can be considered freedom. which is demonstrated by the use of high key natural lighting during the roof scene. Thge brightness brings out the happiness and idea of freedom in the scene and the elimination of dark shadows diminishes any sense of sadness or inprisonment, such as inside a prison cell, where low key lighting is pursued. The non diegetic sound/narration by Red throughout the film helps the viewer experience the thiughts of the prisoners, when noting is said, or comparisons to different conflicts in a scene between characters.