Establishing Shots — Setting a scene like Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Michael Bay

Establishing shots are one of the best shot types for a filmmaker directing a project. With all of the complicated filmmaking theory and camera shots out there, filmmakers often forget how much a good establishing shot can help their directing career.

When you learn filmmaking in film school, establishing shots are often gleaned over because there is so much to go over, but you won’t have success directing movies or any other content without understanding what makes a great establishing shot.

This video essay is going to show you how one of the simple shot types in film can be the tone creator for your cinematography, and scenes. The opening shot says everything, and if you have camera work that leaves viewers scratching their heads and questioning the filmmaker's intention, you may have lost them for the rest of the movie.

Our film analysis gives you the establishing shot definition along with helpful establishing shot examples from popular films and television shows. You can even use a great establishing shot in a music video.

Want one of the best filmmaking tips you’ll ever get?

Get great establishing shots and your directing and editing career will soar.

#establishingshot #directing #cinematography

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[StudioBinder]

What's your favorite establishing shot (or master shot) in a film? Let us know below. 👇👇

[SharpDesign]

"Unsettling. Creepy tone.."

Elmo walks by..

[gabedonovan]

Have u ever watched any stanley kubrick movies or wes anderson movies or did you just look them up on wikipedia?

[GuitarLegend]

Pretty shallow analysis and not super helpful tips this time guys :(

[TheGeekyAmreeki]

Your hosts and videos usually kill it. Not so much this time...

[jackhill]

Kubrick... handheld... yeah no not at all. You completely lost me there.

[cinemacrema]

hmm such a great title for a shallow content, keep pushing though guys, u usually upload some great stuff!
I BELIEVE IN Y'ALL!

[CoreyMorrison]

The Kubrick one... No. Absolutely not, sorry. It makes me feel like the person who directed this episode has never seen a film by Stanley Kubrick.

[ryann]

That elmo on the pier really sells the tone for a Stanley Kubrick scene haha.

[dv]

When i heard "Alright-alright-alright" and saw the face of a 12 year old kid I knew this video wasn't going to be good...

[miguelvidal]

I never thought I'd get to see Stanley Kubrick's name next to Michael Bay ._.

[visualsforyou]

I was pretty impressed with the Wes Anderson shot you guys did. Looks really nice.

[ciaran.vallely]

I knew this video was in trouble 42 seconds in when it credited a shot from Kingdom of Heaven to Exodus Gods and Kings...not many Medieval knights in Ancient Egypt

[RebelScumJack]

Elmo at 5:47 had be laughing out loud!
Thank you for the useful insight and information,
Godspeed and God bless!

[NitroLemons]

At 2:18 that shot is actually from Blade Runner: 2049, that's why it's dated 2017. The original Blade Runner by Ridley Scott Released in 1982 for anyone curious.

[tichondriusstormrage]

I think for me the most important thing to consider is what do I want the audience to know, and how do I want them to feel.

I'll try not to be quite as caustic, but I do generally agree with everyone else. I'd love for these videos to be much more in-depth. You could make them a lot longer and provide deeper analysis, and people would 100% eat them up. I know part of the purpose of these videos is to push your StudioBinder platform, and I don't have any problem with that (believe me, I fully plan on getting it once I work on a big enough project), but I feel like you can do that and provide really insightful and instructive analysis at the same time.

Not trying to be hurtful, just pointing out something that would be good to think about :)

[iniyaaaan]

2:45
Just what I needed for my GTA V movie!...

[simonkempe]

How do you even manage to get Kubrick that wrong?
And no one in this production noticed how pointless these "tips" are...?

[geoffmatero]

anytime I hear “I’m gonna share so and so pro tips…” I tune out.

[aftrt]

Which film is used as the "Kubrick" example at the end? Kind of ring a bell, but at the same time can't quite remember.