A shot where the camera moves smoothly towards or away from the subject on a wheeled dolly mounted on rails.
Dollying in towards an artist creates an intensifying effect, drawing the viewer into the moment. Dollying out creates the opposite: a sense of distance or revelation. The smooth, controlled movement distinguishes it from a zoom.
Dolly shot in the real world
The opening of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean (1983), directed by Steve Barron, uses a slow dolly move toward Jackson as he walks along a pavement where tiles light up beneath his feet. The controlled camera movement maintains a specific relationship between Jackson and the camera that a handheld or zoom shot would have disrupted. The pace of the dolly matches the pace of the bassline.
Related terms
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