All language subtitles for 4. Setting up a theme

Beyond just setting up your sequence
temporally and spatially.

Establishing shots can be used effectively
to set the mood of the scene.

A series of quick establishing
shots can be an extremely effective way

to set up the theme of a story
or situation

in Guide the viewer
into a more elaborated sequence.

For example, these short snapshots
at a bazaar in Istanbul help

introduce the bustling nature of the city
to the audience.

Although many of these shots are close
ups as opposed to white

establishing shots,
they still function to set up the scene.

Viewers of visual media
are quite observant and expect details

to have some importance whether they are
in the foreground or background.

In effect,
every frame should pose a question

that is consequentially answered
by other frames in the sequence.

So as a result of that,
we don't want to pose

unintentional questions
that we don't have answers for.

Here we
see a girl sitting in front of a Buddha.

Although it provides an interesting
compositional element,

it also carries
a slew of symbolic undertones,

unless it is significant
to the narrative arc.

It could be confusing for the viewer.

We want to direct the viewer's
attention on what's important.

Subtle background clues
can work to foreshadow thematic elements.

A good establishing shot
can effectively prime

the audience for
what they are about to see.