Synopsis:

This edit intercuts between two timelines. The first one taking place mostly after Andy escapes, the second one taking place before his escape.

Intentions:

I wanted to modify the narrative structure of the movie to create a new viewing experience. By reordering the scenes and by giving it a modern pacing As a secondary goal, I wanted to remove the opening trial scene because it’s not well written.

Change List:

/ Scenes in black and white, mostly after Andy’s escape * Scenes in color, mostly before Andy’s escape - Removed scenes Castle Rock Entertainment Presents title card / Andy in solitary, receives visit from Norton - trimmed some of Norton’s lines / Andy talks with Red after 2 months in solitary - trimmed all allusions to Andy being innocent and other light trims - removed allusions to Brooks Shortened opening credits * Red’s first parole hearing and Andy gets out of the bus - trimmed out Red’s betting against Andy / Fellows worry about Andy’s acquisition of a length of rope * New prisoners meet Norton and Hadley, then get cleaned / Norton’s shoes shining and Andy’s last night - light trims * First night, Fat Ass murder - removed a shot of the guard yelling lights out / Morning after the escape, guard realizes Andy is missing * First morning, cafeteria food and shower with Bogs - Lightly trimmed Brooks feeding the bird / Tunnel reveal and search party for Andy * Andy talks to Red for the first time and asks for a rock hammer / Norton’s shoe shining, different point of view ‘how often do you look at a man’s shoes?’ - removed three short scenes usually shown just before Andy writing his name on his cell wall Andy starts tunnel behind the poster Andy spreading rubbles in the yard * Red receives the rock pick then passes it to Andy. And Andy’s first two years montage / Andy’s escape - Removed everything after he crawls out of his tunnel - Removed the announcement of the roof resurfacing * Roof resurfacing and drinking beer / Norton commits suicide (placed here for better transition) * Andy needs a Rita Hayworth poster and Bogs gets beaten down by Hadley * Searching for rocks in the field / Andy visits banks, sends a Fort Hancock’s postcard to Red, memories of Andy * Cell inspection and bible talk, Andy gets a new job at the library - Removed a line from the prisoner mopping the floor - Removed Andy filing taxes report for everyone *Andy writes a letter a week to get books / Red’s liberation is approved * Brooks is freed but institutionalized - Removed Brooks life outside of prison / Red’s life outside prison begins * Andy reads Brook’s letter, receives books and vinyls for the library, plays music / Red works at the grocery * Talking about hope in the cafeteria, and Andy gives Red a harmonica - Removed a lonely night with the new poster of Marilyn Monroe - Removed Red’s 30-year parole hearing / Red buys a compass and leaves town for Buxton * Library renovations and Norton’s inside-out program and bribe. - Some light trims * Andy explains Norton’s shady schemes to Red and his involvement - Trimmed a bit at the end / Red finds the Oak tree in Buxton - Removed Tommy’s introduction, bus scene and woodworking scene * Tommy’s theft stories, Andy teaches Tommy, Tommy learns why Andy is in jail / Red finds the metal box under the oak tree * Tommy tells the story of Elmo Blatch. Norton sends Andy in solitary for a month * Tommy receives his diploma / Red reads Andy’s letter under the tree /* Red leaves Maine and reaches Andy at Zihuatanejo (going back to color) End credits

Additional Notes:

I tried to find a certain symmetry between the scenes I was intercutting. I created a detailed log of all the scenes with timings and notes to get a better understanding of what I was working with, to get to know the source material better. It was inspired by a spreadsheet shared by Wraith for his Unbreakable-Glass-Split edit. It definitely helped understand the script better and the pacing as well. It also helped laying down the first version of the new scene order.

Special Thanks:

I wish to thank futon88 for providing me with valuable feedbacks. tremault for guidance with the Black and White. VarsityEditor, PanteraSteel, Heavyside and Wraith, because you engaged with mw in the conversation thread and that does make a difference! Thanks to all of you who left thumbs up or read this!