Did you know that many of our footage customers are from the television and motion-picture industries? When it comes to shooting footage for these markets, there’s a great opportunity to fill their needs by producing establishing shots.
So, what exactly is an establishing shot? The purpose of the establishing shot is to orient the viewer to the setting of the situation/scene. This covers more than just where the action takes place, but also the mood and emotions that creators want to convey.
The mood could be dark, menacing, lighthearted, creepy, or funny — the way a horror film establishes a scene is very different from the way a comedy does it. It’s important for contributors to think about these aesthetic aspects and to shoot with them in mind.
For some great examples, check out this reel of establishing shots from major motion pictures:
Meanwhile, here’s a Shutterstock clip of the exterior of a factory before cutting to two employees within the factory:
Factory Aerial clip by Flystock
Factory Workers clip by HotelfoxtrotIf you’re interested in creating establishing shots, here is a list of the ones that are most in demand. The requests are for all major cities around the world, and each subject should have matching day and night shots of the same scene.
You should also include a variety of shots, such as locked-off (with the camera not panning or tilting), hand-held, zoom-in, zoom-out, panning, tilting, and multiple angles; not all of the shots need to be straight on or aerials. And if possible, featuring a variety of seasons and weather conditions (rain, fog, snow, clear) is also very helpful.
When uploading, please remember to include the words “establishing” and “shot” in your keywords. (Note: Property releases are also recommended for all of the following.)
1. Apartment Buildings: Run-down, middle-class, or upscale (doorman type); brick or brownstone; city, suburban; 10 to 20-unit size apartment complexes
Clip by WTTW Chicago
2. Homes: : Lower-class, middle class; suburban, mansions/estates, country homes, craftsman-style homes
Clip by VideoFort3. Motels/Hotels: Both boutique and chain; seedy and run-down
Clip by Sheyno4. Police Stations: with and without police cars in front
Clip by Rick Ray5. Medical Centers and Hospitals: with and without ambulances in front
Clip by KontentHausMPLS6. Industrial: Buildings, factories, warehouses, small airports
Clip by Ziher7. Strip Malls: Wide shots; pizzerias, liquor stores, nutrition stores, food stores; going-out-of-business signs; parking-lot activity
Clip by Pavel L Photo and Video8. Neon Signs: Old neon signs; neon “liquor” or “beer” signs; rundown neon “motel” signs; pizzeria signs; “red light district”-type signs
Clip by Chromavid9. Nightclubs, Bars, and Restaurants: Dive bars; exteriors of upscale nightclubs; people standing in line outside; Middle Eastern restaurants, steakhouses/BBQ restaurants; bars in cities and small towns
Clip by Spotmatik10. Small Business Storefronts: preferably without people. Entrances, signage, and some building detail and/or full building with sidewalk and street; nail salons, coffee shops
Clip by Color Red Media11. Shots of Cities: Aerial shots; skylines from a boat or ship; locked-off shots (camera not moving) of skyline from viewpoint of window in skyscraper at various heights; street scenes in cities (camera not moving)
Clip by VIA Films12. ‘Crime’ Scenes: Many crime and police shows are looking to establish criminal activity; abandoned warehouses at night; seedy neighborhoods
Clip by Rick RayFinally, if you’ve ever wondered what a television show would look like with just establishing shots, check out this great “Establishing Shot” only video from Seinfeld:
Top image: Small restaurant in Ghent by Krikkiat
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