Lighting – The Shawshank Redemption uses natural lighting throughout most of the movie, but also low-key lighting for a lot of the scenes. Majority of the movie is filmed in the courtyard of the prison. They used the natural sunlight that was present for these scenes. To achieve the dull/depressing colors of the prison, they would film the darker sides of the actors that aren’t exposed to the sunlight. (Phillips, 2007)
In the lighter, happier scenes, they used the sunlight to their advantage. Rather than filming the darker sides of the actors, they changed the angle to film to side the sun was shining onto. It makes you feel happy for the characters with this subtle change.
Much of the movie is filmed indoors. In the scenes filmed in the corridors, they used high-key lighting. It has a very “real” feel, considering the light would be coming from high above in actual prison corridors and cafeterias. Some of the darker scenes are filmed in low-key lighting. There are 3 scenes in particular, and those scenes have multiple times that they play out. Any time Andy is in the warden’s office doing taxes, it’s low-key. When the sisters attack, it’s low-key. The scene when Bogs the Sister enters his cell after a week in the hole, it’s low-key.
The movie is a Crime/Drama, but it’s got some elements of thrillers and mystery. The low-key lighting definitely feed both of those. Every scene that is low-key lighting is very suspenseful. It’s almost like the movies are built off of the suspenseful low-key lighting scenes, and the natural lighting and high-key lighting scenes are more filler and informational scenes. Overall the natural lighting was fitting for the film. It wouldn’t be practical to try anything else, and it wouldn’t feel very realistic if they did try. If the low-key lighting scenes had been left out, I don’t think I would get into this movie as much as I do.
IMDb (n.d.) Shawshank Redemption Info. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/trivia
Phillips, K. (2007) Yahoo Contributor Network. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-cinematography-lighting-shawshank-redemption-318701.html
Shawshank Redemption Film Clip – Beer [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjndJd4R7A
Screenshots Retrieved From http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Shawshank-Redemption-Blu-ray/2885/#Screenshots
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From Watching To Seeing. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
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