Alright, alright, alright.
My name is Elliot Rosen with StudioBinder.
And in this video, I'm going to show you three amazing pro tips
on how to shoot better Establishing Shots.
Before we begin,
don't forget to hit that subscribe button
and click that notification bell to stay in the loop.
An establishing shot in a film does exactly what it sounds like.
It establishes a scene.
"Duh, okay? I knew that."
That's why an establishing shot is the perfect opener
for transitioning to a new scene.
Show the relationship between the subject and your location
and Bob's your uncle.
What's so awesome about establishing shots
is that they don't just simply establish a new location.
They also establish your project`s tone.
I'm going to use StudioBinder`s production software,
so I can break down the specifics of each shot
and you can see how you can get very similar results.
Let's look at some establishing shots from Hollywood movies.
What is this shot establish?
Our location - space shuttle launch.
The camera - fast push in with a wide-angle lens.
This shot was most likely shot on a camera car
to get those extremely fast speeds.
Now, what about the tone?
It's epic.
I mean look how fast the audience
literally being rushed to this new location.
We know something incredible is about to happen.
Now, how about this establishing shot
from Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
The cameras static on a tripod and he got symmetrical framing.
How about the tone?
It's light-hearted and fun.
This shot doesn't go anywhere
and just lets the audience appreciate the location we are already in.
When you're shooting your establishing shot,
here are three tips.
Envision Your Shot.
Plan Your Shoot.
And Be Efficient.
Tip number 1.
Envision your shot.
Ask yourself,
what is the most visually effective way
to establish the character of your scene`s location?
Let's say, I'm shooting a beach scene
on one of Los Angeles`s most iconic locations.
The Santa Monica Pier.
I`ll envision a shot that is high up
and with the camera pointed directly towards the ground
to encapsulate that fun vibe.
Tip number 2. Plan.
Alright, establishing shot to call them out in the shot list.
Also color-coded red, so it really pops.
And customize the shots with shot subject.
Camera movement.
Equipment Type.
Then you can choose which of those columns are displayed.
The last point about planning is research.
Locations always come with limitations.
If you're wondering if the Sun is going to disappear behind a building,
research the sun's trajectory so you can plan for it.
There are great apps out there that help you do this like "Sunseeker."
If you're planning a shoot with the drone,
visit a site like knowbeforeyoufly.org
to check out a map of prohibited zones.
Tip number 3. Be efficient.
When it comes to establishing shots,
don't overdo it.
It makes no sense to spend your whole day shooting an establishing shot
that will only last two seconds in your final film.
Plus wide shots tend to be the more expensive shots of your entire film.
Why?
Because you see everything.
I'm going to show you all the different ways,
you can shoot an establishing shot
of the exact same location.
The first time, it's going to be like Michael Bay.
The second time, it`s going to be like Wes Anderson.
And the third time, it's going to be like Stanley Kubrick.
Let's go.
How do you think an action junkie director like Michael Bay
would establish this scene?
Would it look something like this?
Michael Bay is an epic director.
So he's probably gonna have something very fast-moving
sweeping, epic sort of cinematography.
How about artsy Wes Anderson?
Wes Anderson would appreciate the location
and make it feel as comfortable and inviting as possible.
And lastly, how would Stanley Kubrick do it?
Kubrick micro handheld create an unsettling creepy tone for the scene.
Do you have a project you're working on that need some establishing shots?
If so, you're gonna want to plan it out on a shot list, right?
You can sign up for StudioBinder right now
and it's totally free to get started.
Just click the link below.
And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
We have a lot more amazing videos just like this.
Glad we established that, huh?
Huh?
[Music]