Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying: A Film Analysis: Shawshank Redemption

Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying: A Film Analysis on Shawshank Redemption According to Red life is pretty simple: “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.” Shawshank Redemption written by Stephen King and directed by Frank Darabont is a moving story about an innocent man in prison. The main character Andy is convicted of two counts of murder in 1947 and is sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary. While there Andy befriends a man named Red, and lands a job in the library; as well as doing the taxes of all the prison staff. With Andy handling the taxes of the prison staff he begins to move up in the totem pole; but with power comes many conflicts. In the movie Shawshank Redemption the director uses lighting to portray changes in mood, costume differences to give individuality, and music to represent freedom. Within the first five minuets, the audience can see how important the lighting is going to be throughout the movie. In the movie, the director focuses on lighting to portray the mood to the audience. The lighting would appear dim when times were bad, and brighter when good things were happening. For example, when Andy first arrives to the prison it is a very dim day, no sun was visible. As he gets off the bus he appears timid, Red says, “a stiff breeze could blow him over.” This poor …show more content…
Lighting was used to set the mood of each scene, being very dim at times to portray a somber mood and brighter when joy was around. The music was able to give some color to the prisoners grey lives as well as some hope. In addition to music and lighting being important, the costumes were able to give the characters some charm and identity. These three elements were able to give this film a deeper meaning of a sense of hope and individuality. With the director paying attention to the small details, they are able to keep the audience’s