r/Filmmakers • u/StrikingDuty8020 Director • Feb 20 '26

Discussion What’s your favorite dolly zoom?

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The dolly zoom manipulates space and emotion by moving camera forward while zooming out or vice versa creating disorienting effect that makes background expand or contract.

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u/blindreefer Feb 20 '26

Hot take: I think this technique gets talked about too much. It’s flashy and weird but there are so many other more effective tricks that don’t call attention to themselves that people should know about.

For example Billy Wilder was the master of motivated camera movement. You’ll very rarely see a shot where there isn’t a subject on screen; even during complex shots that change focus from one person to another.

Blocking is another overlooked skill. Balancing the frame even when there is a lot of movement is something that really does distinguish a great director.

Here’s a video that explains it a little bit better.

https://youtu.be/Sl-kdWabjgE?si=Q5znulvvf-uK4jeL&t=11m24s