Research - Famous Shots (Dolly Zoom)

The 'Dolly Zoom' or 'Trombone shot' (as it is sometimes known as) is a very famous shot. It has been used on many successful films such as Jaws or Vertigo and it is used to create dramatic effect. The shot itself is where the camera moves closer to the subject (Manually zooming) whilst you zoom out with the camera so that the subject size doesn't change but the background does. It was first used by Alfred Hitchcock in the 1958 film 'Vertigo' which is why it is often referred to as the 'Vertigo Effect'. He was the first person bold enough to experiment with this type of shot later on followed by the most famous use of the shot in 'Jaws'.

Dolly Zoom - Jaws (1975)

If you take a look at the way the shot looks it can be used to create many different effects. The way it is used in Vertigo it shows how big the drop actually is. Where as in 'Goodfellas' it is used a lot more slowly to make the realisation last a lot longer making it more effective. Personally my favourite use of the shot is in Jaws (above) when the shark has just killed its second victim and there is a sudden realisation that someone has just died so adding to the reaction on the main characters face, they use a fast dolly zoom to show a sudden shocking realisation. I think that it has an amazing effect on showing a major reaction and sort of a "Du Du Duuuuuu" kind of moment (Stupid analogy I know but you get the picture). I think that the jaws shot is more effective because of the reaction on his face that collaborates to the shock of the dolly zoom.

Dolly Zoom - Vertigo (1958)

Dolly Zoom - Goodfellas (1990)

I found also that the dolly zooms can create more weird fantastic effects such as a fantasy effect or a dream effect. Basically they can create strange special effects without the use of CGI. I saw this in action on a student film called 'Master the Mind'. The shot looks like the hallway is extending which reminds me of something from a dream maybe distorting the image or from a horror film that is psychological. Also in the Lord of the rings it shows the path in the forrest distorting. I think that a good, strange effect to create with the dolly zoom is perhaps a portal to another world and you could have it so that it looks like the portal is getting bigger along with the background fading out. But to be honest you can create so many effects with this one shot alone which is what makes it so great. I found also a clip of the dolly zoom that is also the cowboy shot that I researched previously which blends two amazing shots into one! This shot has many dolly zooms in which personally I think is pushing it a little but I was focusing on the cowboy shot and it looks so good!

Dolly Zoom - The Quick and the Dead (1994)

Whilst researching online I found a really interesting video showing the evolution of the Dolly Zoom over the years. I found this really interesting and informative. 

In conclusion I think that the 'Dolly Zoom' is so powerful and can be used in many ways and I definitely want to use it in our film. Whereabouts yet I am unsure of but I just feel it can create so many effects and with it being a famous shot it might make the film look more professional (if it is done correctly).

UPDATE:
After researching club scenes I came up with an idea I thought was really interesting and had an interesting twist on the Dolly Zoom. With Steve (main character) being at a club/party he could end up taking some sort of drug (an ecstasy type pill) and then as soon as the character has taken it it could dolly zoom into his face and his reaction could be his eyes widening then it cuts to chaos in the party. I thought it would be a good way to incorporate the Dolly Zoom as I hadn't thought of any other ideas.