Establishing Shots...

An establishing shot in film sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects. It is generally a long- or extreme-long shot at the beginning of a scene indicating where, and sometimes when, the remainder of the scene takes place. 


In this case the Establishing shot in our film is in a house in a rich posh area. We First get a long shot of the whole area going around and we then zoom into a window in the building of where the girl lives. Then there is a match cut of the character inside the building. Our establishing shot shows the audience where the character is and how the character really is (Her Personality). 


An establishing shot should be two or three seconds long enough for viewers to appreciate the scene. This may also establish a concept, rather than a location.

A good example of an establishing shot that breaks that rule can be found at the beginning of the film Wake in Fright, where it pans over the vast desert landscape of Australia, accompanied by unsettling music to set the mood for the whole film that the desert is a big and dangerous place. The pan shot lasts for about half a minute. An establishing shot of that length would be cumbersome if placed after the film had started, because by then the film should have been established and the story would be underway. Below is the example of Wake in Fright...