The age-old lesson in film and television is "show, don't tell." This is especially true as you switch and establish scenes within a larger production. You always want the audience to know where they are and what they're looking at. That's where establishing shots come into play. These kinds of shots are used everywhere, from movies to television to documentaries and the news. But what is an establishing shot? And how does it fit into the array of different shot types, angles and movements that directors use in their films? And how can you take a boring and overused shot and make it interesting again? Today, we're going to go over the establishing shot definition, look at a few examples, and brainstorm ways we can spice up the generic camera angle. Let's go. Establishing shot definitionAn establishing shot is a wide shot that helps the viewer gain knowledge over the time and location of a scene. Why are establishing shots important?We all know exposition is important to get across to the audience. When you're building a world or just operating in the one we see every day, people want to know where things are located and how that affects the story. You could have your characters gab all this or you could just set up a shot and drop a chyron in. Or even have a plane fly on a little red dot between places.Establishing shots work as a shorthand for filmmakers to communicate ideas to the audience without...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 11 June, 2024