Cinematography Of Shadows

In 1959, an innovative, groundbreaking, and independent film by the name of Shadows was released. The story follows three African American siblings and their everyday life struggles and pleasures. The movie is the first of its kind. It is able to reach a larger audience, despite not being produced and distributed by Hollywood. The director, John Cassavetes, funded the movie through his previous acting gigs and donations. Financing a movie on one’s own had never been done before. The movie does not have a large budget which attributes to the first indie vibe. Cassavette wanted to create a realistic movie where the audience could relate to the characters. The movie had its flaws, as seen in its out of focus shots and continuity errors, but these imperfections are often overlooked because of the authenticity of the characters. The movie stars the ensemble cast of Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, and Hugh Hurd. One of the defining elements of this film’s independence is the

There was no script. The actors and Cassavette were free to experiment with the characters. There is a scene in the movie when it is early morning and the three siblings are all talking and getting ready to shower. They act like siblings. They bicker about the shower, crack jokes, and are they for each other. The brothers are concerned for Lelia’s wellbeing after her guy left her for being black. There chemistry is not programmed. There is no main character like in a mainstream Hollywood flick, they are flowing together as siblings. The characters are in the moment acting which creates lifelike authenticity. It is true drama in the complex relationship of these characters. They are not one feeling. As seen in the getting ready to shower scene, they respect each other. The viewers can tell the characters have a long history with each other. As the movie goes on the improvisation allows the actors to develop in their sibling roles. There was no constriction of a