The three-time Oscar nominee received many distinctions for directing “The Shawshank Redemption.” Darabont is one of only six filmmakers in history to have his first two feature films nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award: “The Shawshank Redemption” received seven nominations and “The Green Mile” received four. His work on the film and its screenplay earned him Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as nominations from the Director's Guild of America the Writers Guild of America. He also won the Humanitas Prize, the PEN Center USA West Award and the Scriptor Award for the screenplay. More recently, Darabont developed and produced the first season and part of season two of “The Walking Dead.”
Organizers of the Aug. 16-18 anniversary celebration have developed a host of fan experiences surrounding the anniversary of the No. 1 movie of all time (IMDB), including several free events. Actors from the film slated to attend include: Bob Gunton (Warden Norton), William Sadler (Heywood), Mark Rolston (Bogs), Frank Medrano (Fat Ass), Alfonso Freeman (Red’s Mugshot and Fresh Fish Guy), Scott Mann (Glenn Quentin), Renee Blaine (Linda Dufresne) and Claire Slemmer (Bank Teller). A number of background actors will be staged at filming sites along the trail throughout the weekend to meet guests. Special souvenirs will be available for purchase to commemorate the anniversary. Additions and updates will be announced via social media at @ShawshankTrail.
First on everyone’s list will be the Ohio State Reformatory tour for $25. Guests can stand inside Warden Norton’s office, peer into Andy’s escape tunnel, walk the Road to Buxton and ride a wagon to Malabar Farm’s Pugh Cabin where the movie’s opening scenes were shot. A full list of other filming sites is found at ShawshankTrail.com.
A destination unlike any other, Mansfield is home to a wealth of unusual travel adventures and experiences, such as visiting the working farm where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Kingwood Center Gardens, BibleWalk, breathtaking scenery, rural and hometown experiences. Hiking, biking, golf, cross-country and downhill skiing, bird watching and loads of other outdoor adventures attract travelers of all ages, with detailed information available at DestinationMansfield.com or (800) 642-8282.