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Television Production & Broadcast Journalism
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Camera Movement
It is important to understand how to move a camera when it is mounted
on a tripod. Beginning from a still shot, slowly start the camera move, speed-
ing up gradually until the move is nearly complete, and then gradually
slow down until the move is completed. When performing camera moves,
position your body where it needs to be at the end of the shot and twist to
the position needed to begin the shot. As your body straightens to return to
a normal standing position, the camera move is smoothly completed. This
camera movement technique also applies to hand-held shooting.
There is a specifi c term to indicate every type of camera movement
possible. Being familiar with these terms is important to effectively com-
municate within the industry. Camera directions are always given in
respect to the camera operator’s point of view, not the talent’s point of
view. Unlike theatrical stage directions, camera movement commands in
television production are intended for the camera operators. Illustrations
of each camera movement defi ned are presented in Figure  4-21. The
camera operator may use these camera movements in conjunction with
zooming to create the director’s intended effects.
• Dolly. Physically moving the camera, its tripod, and dolly
perpendicularly toward or away from the set. Smoothly pushing the
camera directly forward toward the set is dollying in (DI). Dollying out
(DO) involves pulling the camera backward while facing the set.
dolly: Physically moving the
camera, its tripod, and dolly
perpendicularly toward or
away from the set.
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 4-20. Never frame
a shot that cuts off a
person at a natural joint of
the body.
The word “dolly” has two meanings in the television
production industry:
• Noun: It is the wheeled cart in which the tripod sits,
enabling the tripod to be smoothly rolled around the studio.
• Verb: It is a camera movement in which the camera tripod, and dolly
move perpendicularly toward or away from the set.
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