As mentioned previously, Brooks (the old library man) has a pet crow named Jake. In the movie, Andy goes to work in the prison library and talks to the crow, who keeps squawking. Tim Robbins had to time his lines so the bird’s squawks wouldn’t interrupt him like some avian rap battle.
Over time, Robbins knew the bird’s squawking pattern so well that it never ruined a scene. If you look at Robbins closely during the scene, you can tell he’s waiting for Jake’s next yap.
Freeman's Speculation
Nowadays, it's weird to think that this hit movie had such bad box office numbers. The reason for it could be the unfortunate timing that coincided with other cinematic hits. But Morgan freeman had a different idea.
Freeman speculated that the film's name was holding it back. It was too difficult for people to pronounce, which made it hard for the film to become popular through word of mouth.
A Different Freeman
Is that digitally de-aged Morgan Freeman on that mugshot? Actually, it's his son. Red's mugshots in the movie, which are attached to his parole papers, are actually photos of Alfonso Freeman. He even had a cameo in the film chanting, "Fresh fish! Fresh fish today! We're reeling em' in!"
This wasn't the only time Alfonso showed up in one of his dad's films either. The year after Shawshank came out, he played the fingerprint technician in the movie 'Seven'.
The Infamous Nine-Hour Scene
The scene that took nine hours to shoot was when Andy and Red talk for the first time. Morgan Freeman's character, Red, keeps throwing a baseball back and forth with Heywood. The scene is less than 4 minutes long, but Freeman had to throw that baseball for nine grueling hours.
Although he didn't complain about it, he did have to wear a sling around his arm the next day. Now, that's commitment to your craft!
Many Scenes Were Deleted
Shawshank is a masterpiece, but like any movie, many scenes were deleted. It's too bad because they could have added more depth to the story. There were scenes, like Jake's funeral, that showed how much the inmates loved Brooks (the crow's owner). There were also hopeful scenes like Tommy getting a visit from his wife, which pushed him to get his life back together.
Another deleted scene is a heartbreaking moment where Red has a panic attack at the grocery store and has to hide inside the bathroom because it feels like a cell to him.