Establishing Shots

Establishing Shots

An establishing shot in a film is a shot which establishes a scene, and they are usually used at the start of a scene to show the relationship between the subject and the location they are in. It also establishes the atmosphere of the scene, e.g whether it is a light-hearted or dark scene.

Establishing shots are well planned out to ensure they aren't time-consuming to shoot and are effective before they are shot, as they tend to be some of the most expensive shots in films. This is due to the fact that during scenes using these shots you can see everything that is going on.