Dizzying camera technique invented for 58-Across

The dizzying camera technique that was invented for 58-Across is known as a Dollyzoom. It is a popular technique in film-making that involves zooming in with the camera while simultaneously moving the camera away from the subject, or vice versa. This creates an immersive and disorienting effect that can communicate various emotions and story elements to the audience.

To create the dollyzoom effect, a cameraman must move the camera on a dolly, which is a wheeled apparatus used to create smooth and precise camera movements. As the camera moves forward or backward, the lens is zoomed in or out at the same time. This produces a dynamic visual effect where the subject appears to be stable in the frame, but the background appears to be moving either towards or away from the subject. This illusion can evoke a sense of vertigo or unease in the viewer, making it a powerful technique for conveying tension, disorientation and other emotions.

The Dollyzoom technique has been used in numerous movies, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, which is often credited with popularizing the technique. Other notable examples of the Dollyzoom effect can be found in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas.

In summary, the Dollyzoom is a technique that involves simultaneously zooming in or out with the camera while the cameraman moves it towards or away from the subject. This creates a dynamic visual effect that can convey various emotions to the viewer and is a popular tool used in film-making.