Establishing Cut
An edit to a wide or exterior shot that establishes location, time, or spatial relationships before moving into closer coverage. Establishing cuts orient viewers geographically and temporally, providing context for subsequent scenes. While often used at scene beginnings, establishing cuts can also reorient viewers during scenes when spatial clarity becomes necessary.
When to Use
- Beginning scenes to establish location and context
- Reorienting viewers after extended close coverage
- Showing passage of time through exterior day/night shots
- Clarifying spatial relationships in complex locations
Famous Examples
Breaking Bad (2008)
Desert establishing shots before character scenes
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Hotel exterior before interior sequences
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Los Angeles cityscape before scene interiors
Related Techniques
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