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So, let’s start with the basics: What is an establishing shot?īy definition, an establishing shot is any single shot within a film, television show, or type of video content which is used to introduce and set the elements of a scene. We'll start with an establishing shot definition, then dive into some practical tips and tricks for capturing cinematic establishing shots for film and video projects of your own. Taking a look back through cinema history - and with an eye for thematics and composition - let’s take a moment today to explore the fascinating world of establishing shots. We call them “establishing shots” and they’re used to describe to the viewer these crucial cinematic elements. In fact, we have a term for these specific types of shots in the industry. Filmmakers have known this for ages, and they’ve given us beautiful examples of how a single, opening shot for a scene can be used to help establish a setting, a mood, or even an emotion or theme. It’s safe to say that in the world of film and video, a lot can be conveyed in a single frame. We all know the old saying “a picture contains a thousand words.” And while that might be poetically true, what does that actually mean for a single shot in a film or video project? 24,000 words a second? 100,000 words a beat?
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