In the film Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont, many production techniques were used such as lighting, camera work, music and colouring.

Lighting and the editing technique of voice over combine in the ‘roof top scene’ to emphasise Andy’s actions towards his fellow inmates and show us that retention of self identity is essential. After two years of imprisonment, Red gets the men selected for an outdoor job to resurface the roof of a nearby factory. Andy over hears captain Hadley talking about taxes he owes, and takes the risk to offer financial advice in order to secure ‘ Three beers a piece for each of my co-workers, I feel a man working outdoors feels more like a man with a bottle of suds to drink.’ It pays off but he has risked his life to do this. The scene was shot in the late afternoon sun; the sun gives a golden glow effect to the shot and reinforces the voice over. The voice over says, “We sat and drank under the sun on our shoulders and felt like freemen. We were the lords of all creation.”

The men are also positioned in the foreground of the frame with the guards in the background. This is done to show that the prisoners were in control. In this scene Andy is maintaining his selfless identity by caring and providing beer for the other in mates. The golden haze represents freedom and it creates a sense of hope for the other prisoners, it allows them to feel freedom again and therefore understand that freedom is easily reached, and that redemption is very possible. This scene uses lighting, editing techniques and camera angles to show that protection of self identity is the key to redemption shown by Andy maintaining his altruistic nature.

Frank Darabont used editing techniques in the ‘roof top’ scene and lighting to symbolize hope. He used the editing techniques of dissolving shots and voice over to enhance these ideas.

I think the director has used the theme of hope to give the audience a sense of anticipation as it took Andy years to get what he wanted. For example it took him six years to receive extra books for the library. It took over one year to get Tommy his school equivalency and it took nearly 20 years to break out of prison. The director has used film techniques like camera shots and voice over to show the theme of hope in more depth. Andy's determination and persistence had allowed him to reach his final ’redemption’ which was a new ’dream’ life in Mexico.