Establishing Shots - Setting a scene like Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and Michael Bay

[@StudioBinder]

What's your favorite establishing shot (or master shot) in a film? Let us know below. 👇👇

[@shantkiraz1838]

The opening establishing shot in The Shining is up there for me -- Kubrick created a mysterious, ominous tone with that entire sequence.

[@yobull3124]

Of course, the shinning.

[@yobull3124]

@@shantkiraz1838 ridley Scott used that shinning establishing shot for blade runner also.

[@remystyles]

Who is this young wipper-snapper and where is my Deep, Intelligent, sophisticated voice of an author at??

[@rehman24fps]

Ah, there are lots of estb shot to b pondered . At this moment, establishing shot of Moonlight directed by Berry Jenkins: also an uninterrupted continuous shot.

[@SharpDesign]

"Unsettling. Creepy tone.." Elmo walks by..

[@StudioBinder]

😂

[@tedborne]

elmo came with an ak-47

[@CoreyMorrison]

The Kubrick one... No. Absolutely not, sorry. It makes me feel like the person who directed this episode has never seen a film by Stanley Kubrick.

[@cubul32]

Was gonna comment on it. Plus, Kubrick's "style" varies from project to project - but generally his establishing shots are very wide and fairly static.

[@007einstien]

haha so true. i feel sorry for the team though. its kubrick. waddaya gonna do?

[@Wa7edmenalnass]

Somehow It reminds me of the birds

[@eduardocalix8834]

Exactly. It would be more like an ominous slow traveling in or somenthing like that.

[@maxlerner10]

Not to mention it was nothing like The Shining shot they showed before, lol

[@gabedonovan3318]

Have u ever watched any stanley kubrick movies or wes anderson movies or did you just look them up on wikipedia?

[@BryanCWatkins]

hahaha

[@aptonymic3014]

the wes anderson one wasnt too bad but it was more of a "what people think of they hear wes anderson" lacking the creativity of his cinematography

[@thecastiel69]

@@aptonymic3014 Yes, there would be very few number of people on the frame.

[@ProxyDoug]

@Dream Dream Serene Wes Anderson is like a comic strip or diorama seen from a single angle where characters (usually just a few) look like what they are and their actions feel almost pathetic. It's very impersonal to the viewer, but personal to the character which makes it humorous but endearing, so filming random passersby just doesn't work.

[@jackhill9803]

Kubrick... handheld... ummmmm, yeah no not at all. You completely lost me there.

[@dylandavies2635]

That was literally the exact moment when I hit pause and scrolled down.

[@jijivishant]

@@dylandavies2635 same hahhaha

[@Simz199x]

Lol 😂 I thought the same thing. They should have picked a different director

[@GuitarLegend8448]

Pretty shallow analysis and not super helpful tips this time guys :(

[@Ryan-wx8of]

Lots of ads though.

[@cinemacrema2349]

hmm such a great title for a shallow content, keep pushing though guys, u usually upload some great stuff! I BELIEVE IN Y'ALL!

[@TheGeekyAmreeki]

Your hosts and videos usually kill it. Not so much this time...

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for your feedback, Geeky Amreeki. We're finding our footing on this new series, we promise it will improve!

[@TheGeekyAmreeki]

@@StudioBinder no doubt. I follow you guys because you make great stuff.

[@dir-gk]

@@TheGeekyAmreeki aww how sweet.

[@NitroLemons]

At 2:18 that shot is actually from Blade Runner: 2049, that's why it's dated 2017. The original Blade Runner by Ridley Scott Released in 1982 for anyone curious.

[@visualsforyou7120]

I was pretty impressed with the Wes Anderson shot you guys did. Looks really nice.

[@rockugotcha]

Wes never draft natural, chaotic mass. This video maker barely knows about Mick Bey's way.

[@dv6165]

When i heard "Alright-alright-alright" and saw the face of a 12 year old kid I knew this video wasn't going to be good...

[@ryann45]

That elmo on the pier really sells the tone for a Stanley Kubrick scene haha.

[@simonkempe1212]

How do you even manage to get Kubrick that wrong? And no one in this production noticed how pointless these "tips" are...?

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for your feedback, Simon. This is a newer series and we're working out the kinks. More great content to come!

[@mmitchellhouston]

I don't agree with your comment. This has value to noobs and kids just learning about this stuff.

[@tichondriusstormrage]

I think for me the most important thing to consider is what do I want the audience to know, and how do I want them to feel. I'll try not to be quite as caustic, but I do generally agree with everyone else. I'd love for these videos to be much more in-depth. You could make them a lot longer and provide deeper analysis, and people would 100% eat them up. I know part of the purpose of these videos is to push your StudioBinder platform, and I don't have any problem with that (believe me, I fully plan on getting it once I work on a big enough project), but I feel like you can do that and provide really insightful and instructive analysis at the same time. Not trying to be hurtful, just pointing out something that would be good to think about :)

[@anamorphicalan]

agreed, also how other countries thinks, uses and perceives these aspects. Believe me I study anything and everything about movies overall but other countries do not agree or treat each aspect the same. For example unrelated to establishing shots. Currently in china from what I understand. Most of creators do not agree to use dutch angle as sense of disturbance/unbalanced. Depends with the movie, they can use it to visually describe disturbance/ unbalanced/character attitude/shift of story etc. this makes me very curious because this analysis is western perspective and nothing wrong with it.

[@miguelvidal2335]

I never thought I'd get to see Stanley Kubrick's name next to Michael Bay ._.

[@ciaran.vallely]

I knew this video was in trouble 42 seconds in when it credited a shot from Kingdom of Heaven to Exodus Gods and Kings...not many Medieval knights in Ancient Egypt

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for pointing that out, Ciaran. We'll be more cautious next time.

[@needamuffin]

They also labelled Blade Runner 2049 as "Bladerunner (2017)".

[@hannesjakobsson765]

@@needamuffin Now that's a prequal I'd like to see

[@singlewoodish]

So cool, love this. I definitely need some good establishing shots for Harmonica Cop.

[@j.jmarlon1417]

The comment section said it all bro... that Kubrick example was garbage.

[@geoffmatero]

anytime I hear “I’m gonna share so and so pro tips…” I tune out.

[@iniyaaaan]

2:45 Just what I needed for my GTA V movie!...

[@MoncoField]

Yea i have to agree with everyone else. That Kubrick shot was rough...it was not only terrible but it was also way off. Haven't people learned by now that you cannot mess with Stanley Kubrick, you'll never win...

[@shawnshaju2513]

Thank you for this video!❤

[@slimshady8291]

The thing is you cant possibly know how kubrick would approach this.He had a very very unique and diffrent syle depending on the film he was working on.Look at Barry Lyndon and the shining for example.The slow zoom ins and out which create the feeling that you are looking at a painting.on the other hand in the shining you have the steadycam travelling which creates this unsettling feeling.He certainly wouldn't have gone handheld though.This video felt more like a shallow analysis and an ad of your product than a detailed explanation of establishing shots.

[@MrUtah1]

I completely agree with you, I feel like they tried to analyse Kubrick without doing absolutely any research

[@RekzaFS]

Thank you for including Michael Bay AKA the greatest director of all time. He's such an auteur.

[@bertdekunst4849]

Sarcasm?

[@Kamikaze3557]

Sorry but it may be my age, I want a voice / narrator who looks and sounds like he or she has been there, done that. Content is always top notch.

[@chandrasekarchandramohan4278]

The kubrick one is 🔥🔥🔥

[@StudioBinder]

👍

[@aftrt]

Which film is used as the "Kubrick" example at the end? Kind of ring a bell, but at the same time can't quite remember.

[@StudioBinder]

You might be referring to The Shining.

[@baliramchauhangatsby]

Congratulations 👏 Our film school got 1million+ subscribers

[@thisguydan]

You guys have set such a high bar on quality. This one was not up to that level. The information was too shallow, lacking much insight of value. The host should probably pause the Michael Bay movies to brush up on Kubrick for a bit.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for the feedback, Thisguydan. More deep dive video essays are in the works!

[@matthias7893]

Yeah, sign that

[@kimberlyshi1109]

terrific establishing shots of those 3 directors,u precisely reveal their personal style🧡

[@marvelfoxmorty5057]

good job StudioBinder , this episode is totally helpful

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for watching, MarvelFox!

[@tedborne]

kubrick was a 100% methodic director, he would literally use whatever shot would seem perfect for the ocasion considering the movie he's making and the very specific tone of the exact scene in question, if he needs to think about this shot for weeks or shoot it 100 times. Thus making almost impossible to stablish a ''kubrick way'' to have a stablishing shot, hes just not a director with a strong defined type of stablishing shot that looks exactly like somthing he would always do like the other 2 directors you did because of that. But even if i had to determine a ''kubrick way'' to deal with a stablishing (THAT DOESN'T EXIST) that what you did would never even cross my mind.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for your feedback, Gustavo. How would you approach a Kubrick establishing shot?

[@RebelScumJack]

Elmo at 5:47 had be laughing out loud! Thank you for the useful insight and information, Godspeed and God bless!

[@MrUtah1]

I think your demonstration of Kubrick’s style of establishing shots is rather poor. He doesn’t try to make a scene “creepy” or “unsettling”. Sure, some of his shots in a scene can evoke creepiness to some (e.g. when HAL kills Frank or when Dave tries to communicate with HAL after Frank’s death), but all Kubrick tries to do is set the scene simply for us in 1 or 2 long shot(s). It really depends on the theme of his story; whether it be evolution, jealousy, betrayal, violence or hubris, so trying to predict Kubrick’s establishing shots is a bit difficult. In Eyes Wide Shut, Barry Lyndon and A Clockwork Orange, he shows us a couple of title cards and immediately puts the audience in the scene, no time wasted. For his other films, Kubrick does a lot more in the opening sequence, e.g. 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining and Dr Strangelove. In my opinion, in his establishing shots, Kubrick would most likely show us a couple of title cards and then put 2 or 3 wide angle shots (which in total would last about 1 or 2 minutes) to set the scene for us. Whether he would add music or not is dependant on what he tries to evoke in this scene. In this case, he would likely add no music at all and let the minimal sound design do its thing. The handheld and the whip-pan is closer to Wes Anderson than Kubrick. I hope this was constructive enough, and if there’s anything you’d like to add, please do

[@DanielEarl]

Thanks for this! I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately, and this helps get the juices going.

[@StudioBinder]

We're glad you found it useful, Daniel!

[@colleencrimminsrosen9087]

Another very good video tutorial with Elliot Rosen as the host. Keep em coming. I'm learning as well as enjoying watching.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you, Colleen! More are on the way!

[@szabolcsnagy319]

Thanks for this vid. For me this was usefull.

[@sabbathjackal]

You know Kubrick did more than just the shinning right?

[@kojisan1]

I'm sorry, but the overhead shot of Santa Monica Pier is everything but "fun". It makes everyone look small, fragile and gives the shot a very unsettling feeling.

[@MatejHajnal]

I am not sold on the "Kubrik shot"; can you guide me to a particular moment (time tag of a movie / name of a scene) of his creations that reflects the shot?

[@DoronBond]

Thanks for the tips! DIG2200 22 Shots Project brought me here 😆🤣

[@gerocolde]

Amazing content! Really appreciate it! Keep it up!

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks Gero! If you liked this content, feel free to check out our blog when you have a chance! Here's an article from there that talks about creative examples of wide shots in movies: www.studiobinder.com/blog/wide-shot-camera-angles-movements-examples/ Cheers! 🎬

[@suryakanth8443]

Any videos about martin scorcese

[@remystyles]

Who is this young wipper-snapper and where is my Deep, Intelligent, sophisticated voice of an author at??

[@StudioBinder]

We have more videos with Paul coming soon!

[@theperformerofficialhindi9539]

So helpful.... thanks

[@StudioBinder]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dinitha11]

One of your weakest episodes.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for the feedback, Dinitha. We're working out the kinks of this new series and we promise the next one will be improved!

[@a.amousa2678]

They treated Kubrick's whole filmography as horror? Handheld? And Kubrick on a huge set like the beach would transition from a establishing shot to a wide shot in one take rather than cutting like Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@yeshwantdeshpande6134]

Excellent work as Always

[@DaCashRap]

Great video, but the Kubrick Santa Monica establishing shot was way out of context. Why would he want to create a creepy tone at such location? "The Shining" isn't his only film, you know.

[@jeffmcnurlin]

You should have left Kubrick off the list; no one would mistake that example for Kubrick. You can't pigeon hole a Kubrick establishing shot. The best you can do is show tendencies, and show that everything he does is very technical and very deliberate (unlike the example).

[@jamesdudfield6149]

Are you guys shooting the vids raw? I'm noticing the colors look a little washed out

[@PawelChyrowski]

You mean LOG. This is nothing to do with RAW :)

[@jamesdudfield6149]

@@PawelChyrowski Cheers

[@jedgould5531]

I think you should come up with your own tagline. Matthew McConaughey has this one.

[@BabyBearRudy]

Shut up, shut up... You had me at Kubrick....

[@StudioBinder]

Did we achieve a Kubrickian establishing shot?

[@BabyBearRudy]

StudioBinder if I’m being honest, No. I appreciated the info but I feel like the only establishing shot you got kind of right was Wes Anderson. Still a great overall video 👍🏼

[@adolfobermudez1487]

Rodolfo Suarez nah in my opinion they didn’t got Anderson either, he tries to create an atmosphere on where he show us the world he created and that we’re inside of a movie

[@BabyBearRudy]

Mike Mckeane I mean yeah, but considering that Studio Binder doesn’t have control of the set, he probably just went to a pier, he got it kind of right.

[@ayoubbencharef2215]

great job man

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you, Ayoub!

[@Filmfreak1415]

Can anyone tell me what should be the focal length for an establishing shot

[@lysander2136]

Oh, a Kubrick tutorial from a 15y.o. kid, well that'd be interesting. Ah, bless the tutorials from kids that never shot anything but eager to teach.

[@tastethis9999]

1:01 what film is that?

[@FrancescoPaggiaro]

kubrick shots at the end are amazing hahaha, looks se creepy

[@jacobmartin7481]

Any channel that gives Michael Bay respect should get a pat on the back.

[@StudioBinder]

👍

[@JasonSaikaly4]

Roger Deakins is the master of it. and Blade Runner 2049 and Skyfall are the best of it.

[@StudioBinder]

👏

[@joshuah2234]

I think you could have done more with the Wes Anderson example. Shots through 4:32 - 4:38 frame the subjects far off making them appear small, or less serious. There's a lot of humor in how Wes shoots; the last shot, 4:35, I mean, look at this? This is hilarious. It's silly, and fun, it doesn't take itself too seriously. By contrast, your shot at 5:20: There's nothing really "artsy" about this shot; if you wanted to channel Wes, I'd recommend placing a character at the end of the peer and wait for that moment in which you have a clear line of sight to that character, and the crowd parted like the red sea on both sides. Alternatively, you could place a character in the middle with his back to the camera, looking towards the peer like the viewer would. Maybe even give him a popsicle that's melting in his hand?

[@kevinandrewsphoto]

I’ve never learned a single thing from a Studio Binder video (other than when they just rip commentary from actual filmmakers). Put as much work into your research as you do your editing and production value.

[@ostinkortan5310]

I agree. But I think that Studio Binder's goal is selling their software (which is pretty cool btw) and they're just using these "educational videos" (the videos that aspiring filmmakers watch the most) to advertise their product. That results in low content and high production value videos.

[@karamwahab9780]

In contrary to whats being said in the comments, i think this video is not that bad, delivers a couple of tips in a brief manner, which is something good for a youtube short video. BUT, you missed it big time on the Kubrick part, and you guys without intending it you underestimated his style. Frankly speaking, no one would ever assume how Stanley Kubrick would have established a certain shot or scene, he would always give you something unexpected and out of this world. So when something has never been touched by Kubrick, is never to be known or guessed as if in a Kubrick way.

[@StudioBinder]

Nicely put and thank you for the feedback. We've taken all of the feedback we've received into consideration and promise to keep improving!

[@dylangintherofficial]

Kubrick loves large wide sweeping shots similar to michael but less flashy and with seemingly more toned down colour No idea what the shot u guys did that was like a weird low budget crime shot

[@Pattern_seeker202]

Brilliant!

[@YNOTVISUAL]

What LUT did you use for the wes anderson established shot?

[@kaitie2128]

What movie is the Space Shuttle Launch shot from?

[@RaichoNikolov]

I need to know what film is the scene in 00:53 from?

[@jairvazquez3411]

mad max fury road

[@reb_o_lution]

"Alright alright alright" always reminds me of Mathew McConaughey!

[@christianknight2408]

It does?! Weird!!

[@tomservo5988]

Kubrick hasn't been friendly to the robot community. He set our equal rights efforts back YEARS with that Space Odyssey film. Dave had it coming if you ask me. Other than that, great video!

[@StudioBinder]

😃

[@lakshminamagiri7662]

Bro the problem with your shot at the end (kubrick) shot u tried to capture the scene as it is kubrick does not do that he changes everything in the frame to look like kubrick shot good content though we can all agree there is only one stanley kubrick 😅😅😅😉

[@mmitchellhouston]

Very cool discussion.

[@BertBerg]

Other video's from this channel might have interesting insights and shots/techniques/advice that makes me learn, this, this is just a commercial. I also don't think Kubrick would be happy with this handheld half attempt of imitation that has no ounce of meaning/creativity behind it. Don't sell yourself out with this much commercial time without making something challenging/controversial/personal/... (This last sentence I am also writing as a reminder to myself).

[@armstrongjosh]

Noticed the dislikes and was puzzled why. Then came the "Kubrick-inspired" shot.

[@StudioBinder]

Lol...we got a chuckle out of the ridiculous Elmo shot, but you're totally right. How would you have approached that shot?

[@armstrongjosh]

@@StudioBinder Depends. First, let me say that, as a subscriber, I do greatly admire and respect your videos. I apologize if my comment suggested otherwise. But to answer your question: If we're going for something inspired by The Shining, zoom across the water, toward the pier. Cut to an overhead pan of the pier - it's like we're scanning the crowd, but we don't know why yet. Then a POV shot as we, the viewer, hurry through the crowd - it's like the camera is pulling toward something or someone. We stop. POV of the crowd still moving, but it thins out to reveal the theme park Elmo standing there, arms hanging limply by his sides, staring at something off camera. People, including children, walk by him, yet no one seems to notice him standing there - no one, but you.

[@navarafilmsproduction4942]

Days of Heaven Establishing shots are a masterpiece by DOP Nestor Almendros and DIR Terence Malick

[@contrastudios2986]

Hello, is there a chance you would like to make video about 4 meanings in film (referential, explicit, implicit and symptomatic)? I still can't really get it..

[@saurabhkumarjain7]

Babylon (2022) Score

[@sMASHsound]

a big smile grew on my face while taking in the michael bay portion... it was luvly,, i luv michael bay.

[@Caerigna]

To me this actually showed, comparatively, how Bay's "epic" fails to be EPIC. Naturalistic? Yes. Socially aware? Yes. Dramatic?Often (though not in the example used in this video). Awesome and/or wonder inducing? No.

[@mohsinalihussaini2824]

The shot you labeled as Exodus: Gods And Kings Is actually the shot of Kingdom Of Heaven Both Directed By Ridley Scott.

[@hrithikpanakkal6061]

0:29 which movie?

[@yobull3124]

Last one was more like Paul greengrass. But it was unsettling nonetheless.

[@tiagonunes113]

I think the Wes Anderson one was close, but I'm not sure about the Kubrick shot. Seems nothing like him. Although, his establishing shots vary a lot - take a look at Barry Lyndon, you wouldn't compare it with something like The Shining or even his timeless masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. To be honest, it was closer to an Hitchcock shot.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you, Tiago! How would you go about trying to emulate a Kubrick establishing shot?

[@tiagonunes113]

@@StudioBinder Probably with a slow zoom or traveling from or to the character(s) in the scene. I'd let it breathe, till I close on the core of the shot, in a very claustrofobic way. Some quick cuts in between that movement could add some tension. You can see this movement in shots as the beginning of A Clockwork Orange (that exchanges from a close-up of Alex to an establishing shot), Barry Lyndon or 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrickian shots are very methodic, very "line perfect" geometrical one point perspective shots, and that's his identity. Although, like I've said, it's all about the subject of the movie, and it varies from feature to feature. Add in a classical baroque theme and you've got a Kubrick.

[@Languastino]

Where is the next episode for the director series

[@StudioBinder]

We're working on it, stay tuned!

[@gunner23]

What film is that @0:40?

[@clementeen]

Not the usual quality content, what happened this time around? Very disappointing content in this video

[@jasstaabiir]

Which software you used for editing...??

[@StudioBinder]

Our editors use Premiere.😃

[@amalthambi3039]

Amazing content, waiting for more. Also whats the soundtrack used at 2:15? @Studiobinder

[@LuggProductions]

Was that Matthew McConaughey in the intro?

[@bobbylabattofilmmaking]

Bro studiobinder is badddd I had the software for a month and it would randomly delete my scripts. Final draft all the way😅

[@harryneuhoff9115]

I want it for a nature video but I can’t get high up. Any suggestions?

[@aniketpujari8905]

Good one but not one of ur best episodes. Hope u do justice with Kubrick

[@timfa4566]

Is studio binder website available in French ?

[@StudioBinder]

Hi Tim! Currently, it is only available in English. However, if you use Chrome, you can change the browser language.😃

[@timfa4566]

@@StudioBinder thanks 😉

[@benjamingentile1660]

0:40 wrong Ridley Scott movie. That's Kingdom of Heaven not Exodus: Gods and Kings

[@walterjohnson8127]

No offense kid, but what happened to the older sounding guy with the hypnotic deep voice? I'd listen to any video with that guy talking. And what is with the silliness? This video does not fit the quality I'm used to. It looks like some college kids broke into the StudioBinder editing room and used all of their templates to create a shallow, uneducated disaster. Obviously a different writer, voice talent, and editor/producer. Kinda like when you go to your favorite restaurant and suddenly the hostess is rude, the waitress service is slow, they get your order wrong, and the food tastes bland... Something changed... in a bad change kinda way.

[@StudioBinder]

We add a new dish to the menu item and everyone loses it, haha. Thanks for the feedback, Walter. We have more video essays with our sultry-voiced narrator, Paul, in the works. In the meantime, Elliot and team definitely appreciate the notes! Will dive deeper in the next one.

[@dorukcoskun601]

0:39 Exodus: Gods and Kings???? It is the Kingdom of Heaven if I'm not mistaken. I have never watched Exodus: Gods and Kings, but I believe knight hospitaller wouldn' be around during the time of Moses, lol.

[@rehman24fps]

I love studio binder but that Stanley Kubrick sequence: I am offended.

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for the feedback! We promise to keep improving! What would you have done differently?

[@rehman24fps]

@@StudioBinder the music is obvious to the point that it feels like a pretentious, lazy effort. The description is alright but the length of the clip is short. I wud like to film Kubrickian estb. Shot without the red puppet. If this is a clip of how to shoot eerie estb shot, it's fine but the name Kubrick deserves something more, something less obvious, requires some psychologically disturbing elements that will linger deep down. I mean, I didn't feel the passion behind this particular clip: but the bay and Wes Anderson clips are cool!

[@nikshmenga]

This 2:50 shot is pretty lame could have used some more "envisioning."

[@StudioBinder]

Thank you for the feedback, Nikshmenga. The execution will be on point on the next one!

[@nikshmenga]

@@StudioBinder Fellini (8/12) used a very similar shot to effectively conjure sheer terror in the opening dream sequence! Love your site.

[@DodaGarcia]

Right? Shots of a beach straight up aren’t usually meant to “encapsulate the fun vibe” (???), they just happen to be aesthetically pleasing because of the lines they form.

[@anamericanentrepreneur]

How come you didn’t ask how I would shoot-😂🤣

[@TheComicChild]

Hey does anyone know the music that starts at like 2:25 till 2:50?