How to recreate the dolly-zoom shot as seen in JAWS

Cinematography is an art, helping directors tell a story exactly as they wish. The right shot can also show us exactly how a character is feeling. The rain shot in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and the camera panning away from Travis Bickle while he’s on the phone in Taxi Driver (1976) to name just two amazing examples of a character’s elation and loneliness respectively.

Bill Butler’s cinematography in JAWS truly is a miracle of movie making evolution. However there is one shoe that stands alone. The rapid dolly-zoom in on Chief Brody as he sees Alex Kintner get killed by the shark before his very eyes.

A dolly-zoom, also known as a "Vertigo effect," is a cinematography technique that involves zooming in on the subject while simultaneously moving the camera away from it or vice versa, creating a disorienting effect. Here's how to create a dolly-zoom:

STEP ONE

Choose your subject: Choose a subject that you want to focus on for the dolly-zoom shot. This could be a person, an object, or a specific area.

STEP TWO

Set up your camera: Set up your camera on a dolly or tripod, with enough space to move the camera forward or backward.

STEP THREE

Frame your shot: Frame your shot, making sure that your subject is centered and in focus.

STEP FOUR

Zoom in or out: Zoom in or out on your subject while simultaneously moving the camera forward or backward. This will create the disorienting effect of the dolly-zoom.

STEP FIVE

Adjust your speed: Experiment with different speeds for the zoom and camera movement to achieve the desired effect. Slower movements and zooms may create a more subtle effect, while faster movements may create a more dramatic effect.

Dolly-zoom shots can take some practice to get right, so be patient and keep trying until you achieve the desired effect.

Remember that the dolly-zoom technique should be used sparingly and with intention. It's a powerful technique that can add an emotional impact to a scene when used appropriately, but it can also be overused and become distracting if not done correctly.

Words by Ross Williams

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