5 Filmmaking Tips for Beginners (Shawshank Redemption)

Low Budget Filming Techniques from a BIG Budget Movie

1 Pope in the Pool
2&3 Crowd Control
4 Subject by a window
5 Use Objects to Show Emotion

[illinoisjones]

I was credited crew on this and 18 years of other stuff after this. That's me (curious con#1) on the ground in the rooftop shot. They had plenty of money for extras at $56 for 10hrs. The aerial bus to prison shot: they released ad in those old things called newspapers for free extras, and told the paid extras not to tell the free extras. Well they figured it out and would eventually leave. Some free extras would return for other scenes anyway. This WAS shot nearly in exact order, I still have 1/2 the daily set call sheets (and a screen used striped shirt). With the convienience of a prime location, there was always "cover set" for weather permitting. Snow was potato flakes since it was 90 degrees and humid. Also Freeman pre-recorded his narration and they would play it back on set. So the actors are actually hearing the narration. At 19 years old then, learned a lot on that set. 3rd movie worked on. Predicted it would be only a soft hit and big on video/cable. No idea people would still be talking about it 29 years after filming.

[marin_real_estate_photography]

Never saw Shawshank Redemption. However a low budget Hollywood technique was told to me by my grandfather, who played a Native American in some of the low budget Westerns (since he knew how to ride a horse). To make it look like a million Native Americans are charging down on the cavalry when you only have a handful of extras, set the camera on a tripod pointing one direction and have the riders circle around the camera, so they pass through the frames multiple times. He said that some prop hands would be throwing different headdresses to make it look like a different Native American each time they passed in front of the camera.

[roehaus]

Great video. Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorites. My closing scene... Red never plays the harmonica in prison. Andy is working on his boat in Mexico when he hears a harmonica playing in the distance. He looks up and sees Red.

[musicodromprod.]

Passage of time: at 1h15'20". When he tries to read the note on the Marilyn Monroe poster, he moves the note away to be able to read it because he is already over 40 years old, in the next scenes he appears wearing glasses.

[Visethelegend]

I love this film but I love LotR more and I always say the behind the scenes of the extended editions is a masterclass for every filmmaker in all departments. 24 hours of bts of pure awesomeness.

[schwartzbrothersmedia]

When you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time. So that snow shot was very important.

[TheMinistryFilmworksEST]

Perfect film. Similar shadow play and simplicity is found in the lighting for Barton Fink. Also shot by Deakins.

[tungpham]

How could one not subscribe to this channel is beyond me. I'm not a film maker but I've learned a lot and dear god, what a crime, for free.

[drmatthewhorkey]

I also LOVE that film. Thanks for the breakdown, esp the vertical shot scene

[Tyrell_Corp]

Great video with solid advice. Just to put it out there: In Taxi Driver, there is perhaps one of the greatest shots utilizing objects to communicate thoughts and emotions. The overhead zoom of Travis Bickle staring into a fizzling water glass is epic. You just know he's starting to bubble under and things are going to get intense. Talk about economy.

[damianrobertson]

Tim Robbins is 6 feet 5 inches tall, and a lot of shots in Shawshank were composed to hide this (e.g. he'd often be sitting or crouching down) as they didn't want him appearing too dominant compared with other prisoners. One of my favourite bits of trivia

[AynenMakino]

Telling story through the objects in a scene, especially instead of dialogue, is so under-utilized. Your scenery is always going to have to have a ton of objects in it. Don't think of them as filler, or just any other object that would be in that space. It's not just any other object, it's that particular one, for a particular reason that matters.

[jesse]

Darn, I had already subscribed! I will not unsubscribe; your content is just too good.
The panning of the camera when Andy emerged from that sewage pipe, falling into the flooding creek, the pulling away as he ripped off his shirt and the camera pulls out and up to give this expansive view of his freedom is just superb. In a single shot you have him in the worst place possible (the pipe), then your spirit soars with his as he realizes he is free and in this cleansing rain.

[AriIsenberg]

This is great! Never hurts to be reminded about these relatively simple yet important techniques. Made me appreciate Shawshank Redemption more.

[saukibasya]

Not just filmmaking lessons but life lessons too. Love this movie. Greatest movie off all time.

[jacksuttonfilms]

0:38 - love music choice here and epic video, thanks again for such great content!

[engagementSquared]

Mr. "Happy to share information" - appreciate your attitude and tips!

[drafeirha]

I am subscribed to over 50 youtube channel and Epic Light Media is one of the very few channels where I watch every new video that comes out

[johnnydee]

Nice light dark light dark set up by the window. 😆

[claywilson]

I have always said ..."a lot of how a film is received is due to the viewers attitude". If I'm uncomfortable, for example, a drama wouldn't be received well from me at that time . Or if I feel whimsical, watching a comedy would dullen that mood instantly . The best movies were the ones I found by accident and wasn't expecting much . The kind of movies that change you and force you to think ...compel you to reflect, or the kind of movies that drive darkness and anger from ones heart and makes us laugh at the absurdity of life . Watch 'Small Apartments' (...and who would've thought Johnny Knoxville could act), watch 'Internal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind' . There was a movie done in the early eighties called 'The Chain' (UK Version), 'Muriel's Wedding' . These, and others, were movies that caught me by surprise and struck chords in these worn out nerves ....and maybe even pierced this stone heart . However ..part of me is convinced that where I was, and my mood at that time played a factor in how those movies were received.
So ...my twenty five cent wisdom is this : Be careful who you bring with you to watch movies ...even if you're alone 😉