Zoom out while moving forward

tbuelna

tbuelna

Active member
I don't know the name of the shot or a movie to reference it, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to do the shot where the person doesn't move at all and the background looks like it starts to shift backwards.

I have played around trying to simulate this effect and the closest way I came is when I am 15 - 20 feet away from the actor zoomed up close, and I push the dolly forward and zoom out the same speed as I'm pushing the dolly trying to keep the actor in the same frame the whole time.
 
"Dolly-zoom" AKA: "Hitchcock Zoom"

And the way to do it is a good dolly with a great dolly-grip. A good focus puller. And lots of practice!

- Mikko
 
One of the best uses of it is I think Poltergeist, when the mom tries to run through the corridor and it expands... So I always call it the Poltergeist trick.
 
Ovaclip, to really answer your question, what your referring to is called a "Vertigo" move. Like mentioned above, it can be accomplished by pulling back while zooming in, or pushing in and zooming out. Either one will create the effect, however, pulling out and zooming in will render more of a claustrophobic effect, as if the background is compressing in, opposite for pushing in and zooming out. The most famous use of this effect is from the movie Jaws.
 
Careful while using it, though. In alot of films I see (Fantastic Four comes to mind), it's used just because it's there and comes off as really cheesey. But some uses like Jaws and LOTR are well done and almost invisible.
 
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