ESTABLISHING

[avid-dreamer]

Me again!

Ok, I need your opinions: which would you guys use?


EXT. DAY. LANGLEY, VA
Establishing shot -- CIA Headquarters

OR

EXT. KEY WEST MARINA - DAWN - ESTABLISHING

[Daydreamer]

How about:

INT. CIA-HEADQUARTERS - DAY

If your scene starts inside the building, I'd leave the establishing shot to whoever's editing the thing later.

[dpaterso]

If these are first-time-seen establishing location shots then I'd make this evident by the description, e.g.

EXT. CIA HEADQUARTERS, LANGLEY - DAY

The dark glass HQ of the USA's infamous spy agency.

...and if you return here later just use the slugline, no description necessary.

Ditto with:

EXT. KEY WEST MARINA - DAWN

Packed full of power boats and yachts, rich men's toys.

...describe once, and if you return here in future just use the slugline, no description necessary -- unless something has changed, e.g. the marina has been devastated by a hurricane.

-Derek

[LIVIN]

If these are first-time-seen establishing location shots then I'd make this evident by the description, e.g.


Ditto. I'd never actually write "establishing shot"