What is an establishing shot?

• A. A shot showing the location where the scene takes place
• B. A close-up shot of a character's face
• C. A shot that follows action in real time
• D. A shot that fades to black

Answer: (A)

The establishing shot is the shot that shows the location where the scene takes place. It’s usually a wide or long view that places the viewer in a space—like a city skyline, a street, or the interior of a room—before we move into closer details. This sets the geography, time of day, mood, and social context, helping the audience orient themselves and understand where the action is happening.

A close-up of a character’s face focuses on emotion and detail, not setting. A shot that follows action in real time describes continuous movement or a single take but isn’t specifically about showing location. A fade to black is a transition between scenes, not about establishing where the scene occurs.