Article Review #2

I read the article “Establishing Shots: Examples and Uses of the Camera Angle” by Jason Hellerman. The link to this article is https://nofilmschool.com/establishing-shot-examples-and-uses. Hellerman explains the meaning of establishing shots. He says that establishing shots are used everywhere, from movies to television to documentaries and the news. Hellerman also talks about the importance of exposition and the audience. Throughout the article, Hellerman gives a bunch of examples where films and shows use establishing shots. One of the movie that Hellerman admires is Harry Potter. Hellerman is impressed with the story telling and how the time progresses in Harry Potter. Hellerman ends the article by saying some of the most jaw-dropping scenes were made possible by wide shots.

I learned that an establishing shot is a wide shot that helps the viewer gain knowledge over the time and location of a scene. Exposition is important to get across to the audience. When someone builds a world, people want to know where things are located and how it affects the story. So, establishing shots work as a shorthand for filmmakers to communicate ideas to the audience without confusing them. I learned that we can amp up establishing shots by finding angles with lead-in lines. These can be roads, rivers, or pathways that direct the audience’s eyes towards what you want the audience to look at. Establishing shots are usually wide. This gives us the opportunity to add details in the foreground to challenge the audience to take everything in. This also will add layers of depth to the image and make it more beautiful.

This article taught me that filmmaking is hard. It’s all about creating an emotional experience and capturing the audience’s imagination. Hellerman states, “You have to create a compelling world, fill it with complex characters, and develop a real sense of atmosphere. Simply put, you need some scope”. This quote taught me that creativity plays a big role in creating a successful film. I feel that the film industry is very creative. Most of the movies I have watched definitely catches my attention.

After reading this article, I want to learn how to tell a story by showing instead of telling. I feel that the audience gets involved with movies through visual rather than narration. I would go read more articles about camera angles.