Day 5: Cinematic Camera Movements
Master Movement to Tell Powerful Stories
Welcome to this module on cinematic camera movements. You may know this already, but movement is one of the most powerful tools in our tool belt when it comes to evoking emotion, telling our story, and if you do it really well, your movements can just look super cool.
A New Way to Think About Movement
It's really easy to look at movement by itself and make it out to be this really complex thing that's hard to understand, especially if you're very new to content creation.
On the flip side though, we can also boil it down into very simple components that are easy to implement and replicate in our own content. As far as my approach to teaching these concepts, I'm going to take the simple route rather than the complex one.
⚠️ Movement as a Character
I want to challenge you to look at movement not simply as the way our camera moves to keep our subject in frame, but instead as a character in and of itself in our videos.
You want the movement you use to carry your viewers from one scene into another in a seamless fashion, and we want our movements to enhance the emotional impact of our content so our message is even clearer to our audience.
It truly is a powerful force that goes so much farther than just pointing our camera at a subject and recording.
What We'll Cover
- The Five Essential Camera Movements - Proper foundation
- Real World Examples - How I typically use different movements in my storytelling strategy
- Behind the Scenes Breakdown - Real time movements and how they look on camera
💡 Gear Doesn't Matter (As Much As You Think)
In the examples in this training, I'm using a variety of setups:
- Larger gimbal and camera setup
- Smartphone handheld
- Smartphone on a gimbal
- Drone videos
I want to stress: The gear doesn't play anywhere near as large a role as most people think. The way I create and use movement with my smartphone content is the same way I approach utilizing movement in my drone content or using my larger camera and even handheld.
Certain tools like gimbals just make completing specific movements slightly easier, but they're not absolutely necessary.
The 5 Essential Camera Movements
1. Pan
Keeping your camera in one fixed spot, but shifting the angle of your camera from either right to left or left to right.
2. Tilt
The opposite of pan - changing the angle of your camera up and down while it's fixed in one place like on a tripod.
3. Dolly
You keep the angle of your camera fixed, but you physically move your camera forwards or backwards.
4. Truck
The same exact thing as dolly, but instead of moving forwards and backwards, you move your camera left to right.
5. Jib
Similar to truck and dolly, but this time you keep your angle fixed and you move your camera up and down.
Specific Cinematic Movements I Love Using
No Movement (Static Shots)
It might sound strange, but an absence of movement altogether is still something that we need to talk about.
I love filming on tripods or just handheld as steady as possible for a ton of reasons. 95% of the talking head content I shoot - like the video you're watching right now, the interview-based commercials I shoot for my clients - they're all shot on tripods because it's so freaking simple and easy.
Why Static Shots Work
Static shots on tripods are great for when we want our content focused and very easy for our viewers to just take in altogether.
Plus: We can also add movement to these shots through creative editing:
- Adding a slight push in
- A slow and subtle push out
Simple as they may be, adding slight movements like this can be really powerful for conveying a certain emotion.
Example: YouTube Video Openings
I start most of our YouTube videos with a shot of me talking with a very subtle push in because it just adds this sense of energy to the video, pulling the viewer into what I'm actually going to talk about.
💡 Other Great Tripod Uses
- Cool effects like the clone effect
- Banana drop transition (we have tutorials on both in the program)
- Simple time lapses where we let the movement of the scene entice the viewer rather than the movement of the camera
It really is incredible how much movement we can digitally add to a static video shot on a tripod - with just a little extra editing, you can add 10 times more energy into the clip.
Handheld Movements
A lot of people hate handheld movements because they think they look amateur and unprofessional. And in a sense, they're not wrong.
Understanding Handheld
It's easy to look at handheld movements as being amateur because most amateurs start out with nothing but their hands for filming and they don't really understand how to use it yet.
The key to handheld movements is understanding the limits of how far you can push things and also understanding the purpose of handheld filmmaking.
Example: Pushing Too Far
Imagine having the goal of filming a smooth, steady shot moving quickly down an ocean dock. Trying to do this handheld would be pushing things a bit too far, knowing it's hard to walk quickly and get smooth shots with our hands.
That doesn't mean you're a bad filmmaker. It just means that you can't really get that look with the tools that you currently have. On top of that, it doesn't really align with the purpose of filming handheld.
The Purpose of Handheld
The purpose of filming handheld is to inject a sense of organic movement into a scene, making it feel as if the viewer is right there in the scene itself.
Example: Fight Scene
Let's imagine a fight scene between two characters. Things are crazy, hectic with a lot of motion already in the scene.
Filming this handheld would be great because we can quickly whip the camera here and there to follow the movement of the actors. We almost want it to be shaky simply because who wants to watch a smooth fight scene? That would just be boring.
Key Lesson: Content creation is really all about understanding the limits and getting creative within the realm of what's possible for us with the tools that we have at our disposal.
The Juicy Movements (Gimbal Techniques)
Now we are getting to the juicy movements that I love incorporating into my content all the time. I typically find myself doing these on a motorized gimbal simply because that is my tool of choice.
1. Push-In Shot
Just as the name implies, you simply push in with the camera, slowly walking towards your subject.
Great for:
- Establishing your location at the beginning of a video
- Drawing the audience in closer to the subject
- Showing them what they need to actually focus on
This is a practical example of the dolly movement outlined at the beginning of this module.
2. Pull-Out Shot
Opposite to the push-in shot - you start at one point and slowly walk backwards away from your subject.
Great for:
- Showcasing the full scope of a specific location
- Establishing the subject of the scene and then backing up to showcase some other important aspect surrounding the original subject
💡 Emotional Impact
Pull-out shots can imply emotion in many ways. Sometimes directors use pull-out shots to display the feeling of abandonment, as if the camera and the audience are literally abandoning the subject as we move farther and farther away.
3. Jib Movement
You can accomplish this by starting low and close to the ground, slowly moving your camera up, mimicking the motion of a jib or a crane.
Jib movements can do a lot to just add that little extra oomph a scene needs to pop and look cinematic. Sometimes just a touch of movement is all you need - don't feel like you need to move your camera a thousand feet to showcase this movement.
As the old saying goes: Sometimes less is more.
Handheld Option: You can also simply perform this movement by lifting your camera up handheld, slowly, and in a controlled fashion. You're obviously going to struggle moving that camera smoothly 10 feet up and down, but if all you're trying to do is move a couple feet slowly up and down, you can easily do that handheld.
4. Parallax Movement
One of my absolute favorite and sometimes overused movements!
The parallax is accomplished by slowly rotating around your subject, keeping them contained in the frame, while the entire background moves quickly around them.
This shot can be performed both at wide angles and at tight angles, which adds a lot of dramatic flair to the scene.
Execution Tips
The key: Getting a smooth rotation around your subject while trying as best as you can to keep them fixed in the same part of the frame.
Practice is absolutely key with this movement. When you're first learning, it might be easier to nail the movement on a wide angle lens first before moving to a tighter focal length.
Remember: The more zoomed in you are, the more evident micro shakes and other bumps in your movement are, so sticking with a wide angle lens like the ultrawide on your smartphone will help ensure your movements look as smooth as possible.
5. Subject Track
This is where you move with the subject of your scene, keeping your subject fixed in one part of your frame as you move with them.
You can do the subject track:
- From the side of your subject
- In front of your subject (with you walking backwards)
- Behind them as you follow them
- Top down if you had access to a drone
This can add a unique perspective to your scene and help the viewer really feel like they're following with the action rather than just sitting back and witnessing it.
I like the subject track movement better than simply panning your camera to follow the action - this has that added level of sticking with the action rather than just chasing after it.
6. Reveal Shot
This isn't just one specific movement but really any shot where the movement introduces some new subject or focus.
How It Works
By moving the camera, you reveal the subjects and bring them into view. Each time the subject initially isn't in view but then through the movement ends up coming into clear view.
This is a really dynamic type of shot that I love using in all the different types of content that I produce.
Level Up: Multi-Dimensional Movements
I call this creating multi-dimensional movements and it's basically the process of combining two or more of the movements we've already talked about together to create something even cooler.
Example 1: Push-In + Tilt
Rather than a simple push-in all by itself, why not start with the camera pointed at the ground, slowly push in while also tilting the camera back up?
We just combined the push-in and tilt movements and this new shot is something that I use all the time to introduce new environments in my content.
Example 2: Parallax + Tilt + Reveal
An example of a parallax movement, rotating around my subject while I also tilt up the camera following the action of the subject while also helping to reveal more of the amazing waterfall in the back.
This multi-dimensional movement helps me shift the focus of my shot from one subject to another and without the movement, that shift would be almost impossible.
Getting creative with these shots and combining multiple movements will level up your content in no time.
💡 Huge Tip: Create Depth with Foreground Elements
Create more depth in your scene by filming your movements up against some foreground element.
We talked about this in the composition training, but having foreground elements increases the depth of your scene by emphasizing the three-dimensional space, and when it comes to movements, foreground elements also enhance the impact of the motion.
Example: Subject Track
Filming a simple subject track at eye level of someone walking has some movement but it's not very emphasized because we have no foreground elements.
As soon as we shift that perspective and film closer to the ground, now we've created our own foreground and it really emphasizes the speed of our movements.
By doing this, simple and small movements like a handheld jib (moving the camera up) seem way more exaggerated compared to the same shot but with no foreground whatsoever.
Anthony's Process
Make a note to always consider how you could film the scene from a new perspective that introduces some foreground element.
For me personally when I'm shooting and I don't really have that much of a plan, I find myself filming a lot of shots in kind of the same exact fashion. So my challenge is I will look at a shot and then think: How can I film this from a new perspective which adds foreground to it?
That's my process when I'm just kind of filming randomly, and I think if you implement the same strategy, your content will start to look much better much faster.
Key Takeaways: Cinematic Movements
- 5 Essential Movements: Pan, Tilt, Dolly, Truck, Jib
- Movement is a character - enhances emotional impact and carries viewers through scenes
- Gear doesn't matter as much as technique - same principles apply across all equipment
- Static shots (no movement) are powerful - 95% of talking head content
- Handheld has purpose - inject organic movement, make viewer feel present
- Push-in: Establish location, draw audience closer
- Pull-out: Show full scope, can imply abandonment
- Jib: Add cinematic oomph, less is more
- Parallax: Rotate around subject, dramatic flair (practice on wide lens first)
- Subject Track: Move with subject, viewer follows action
- Reveal: Movement introduces new subject or focus
- Multi-dimensional: Combine 2+ movements for next-level shots
- Foreground elements enhance movement impact - create depth and emphasis
- Always be deliberate - have a plan or reason behind each movement
Long training I know, but understanding how to add movement to your videos is so crucial.
I challenge you to always try and be deliberate with your movements - have a reason behind doing the movement that you are doing.
Try to avoid just throwing random movements in your content for the sake of having movement to begin with.
Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next one.
This lesson contains a video tutorial for the DJI OM 5 Gimbal. The video demonstration will show you how to use this specific gimbal model with your smartphone for smooth cinematic movements.
📹 Video Content
This lesson is primarily video-based and demonstrates:
- Setting up and balancing the DJI OM 5
- Basic controls and functions
- Executing the movements covered in Lesson 1
- Tips and tricks for smooth operation
Watch the video to learn how to use the DJI OM 5 gimbal effectively.
This lesson contains a video tutorial for the DJI OM 6 Gimbal - the updated version with improved features and capabilities for smartphone filmmaking.
📹 Video Content
This lesson is primarily video-based and demonstrates:
- What's new in the DJI OM 6 compared to OM 5
- Updated setup and balancing procedures
- New features and shooting modes
- Practical filming examples with the OM 6
Watch the video to learn how to use the DJI OM 6 gimbal effectively.
This training covers some of the most common mistakes amateur content creators make when it comes to the movement in their videos. I've always found that in my own learning journey, it's great to learn what to do, and it's also great to learn what not to do.
⚠️ Mistake #1: Trying to Do Too Much
To put it simply, advanced movements and shots require advanced skills, and the only way to develop that advanced skillset is through consistent practice and building up that experience over time.
In other words: You need to walk before you learn how to run.
The Problem
I see tons of people pick up a camera for the first time, and they try to copy the YouTubers they see making these crazy videos with crazy advanced movements that require a lot of skill and expertise to pull off in a professional fashion.
At the beginning of your content creation journey, it is so important that you stress on keeping things simple and clean.
Your final videos will be super enjoyable to watch, the audience will readily understand what you're trying to convey, and slowly over time, you'll develop the more advanced skillset required to pull off those crazy movements.
Important Context
Always remember that well over 70% of shots in Hollywood movies and some of the most heavily consumed content in the world are shot on either tripods with no movement or very slow-moving rigs where it's just the simplest amount of movement to keep the scene dynamic.
A lot of amateurs will start with the intention of making movement the sole focus of their videos, but instead, your story needs to do the talking. Movement is there just to enhance the story.
💡 Better Approach
Rather than tell yourself "I'm gonna practice these movements today," design a quick story (even if it's as simple as taking your dog for a walk), and practice movement by enhancing that particular story.
Important Note: I'm not saying you shouldn't try these advanced movements. In fact, I encourage you to - that's how you're going to learn.
But you have to set the expectation that this is practice in pursuit of perfection. It's not gonna be perfect right out of the gate, so don't get discouraged, and you probably shouldn't include these practice shots in finished products that go to a client or your YouTube channel.
⚠️ Mistake #2: Not Picking the Best Portion of a Movement
Probably sounds vague, so this one definitely needs some explaining.
The Problem
Let's say you're working on a real estate video, and you record a clip that is two seconds long. The amateur mistake is including the entire two-second clip in your final edit.
Why this is bad: Throughout any given shot, not all portions are equal in quality.
- Usually there's a little dead space in the beginning where maybe the camera shakes when you hit the record button
- The same thing goes for the end of the clip
- Throughout the main portion of the movement in the middle, it's not always perfectly stable
- Sometimes we take a step that adds a micro shake
- Sometimes our movement speeds up or slows down inconsistently
- Maybe we just jerk the camera a little too much
The Solution
As a skilled content creator, the key is to analyze the entire shot and just pick out the best segment of the overall clip and include just that in your final edit.
Result: This might shorten your final video because we're including less footage. This is actually a good thing!
I always tell people: A one-minute video of just perfect clean shots is 10 times better than a two-minute video that has a ton of small errors and other things that take people out of the viewing experience.
As content creators, we're always battling short attention spans and ensuring you understand this tip will help you with that a ton.
⚠️ Mistake #3: Too Much of the Same Movement
A simple one - having too much of the same movement in your videos.
Anthony's Experience
I remember when I first learned what the parallax shot was and how cool it looked to rotate around your subjects while filming.
I loved it so much that I used it way too much and ended up losing the unique power that comes with the parallax shot.
The Principle
Unique movements are meant to be unique and only used sparingly here and there.
It's like the seasoning that a chef uses at a fine Italian restaurant - it's just the smallest amount that enhances the overall project.
Focus on letting your story do the talking with most of your shot selection, and then finally spice things up just a little on a case-by-case basis with more advanced and unique movements.
⚠️ Mistake #4: Unmotivated Movement
Building off of mistake number three - having unmotivated movement in your videos.
This is something that film schools harp on a ton, and it can get complex, but in my effort to simplify this concept, just remember:
The Rule
You always need a subject in each shot of your videos. There needs to be a reason motivating you to capture that shot and include it in your final video, whether that's:
- A person on camera
- An animal
- A landscape
- A product that you're showing off
- Even a particular emotion that you're trying to capture
There needs to be a reason.
The Problem
Once you have your subject, you decide on the movement (if any at all) that you're going to use to connect the subject to the narrative of your story.
A lot of amateurs will tend to include movement in their content with no purpose, no reason other than the fact that it's a movement and they wanted to feature it.
This is what we call unmotivated movement in film, and especially in amateur content, we want to avoid it.
The Solution
Make sure with your videos the movements you're using:
- Clearly identify and relate to a particular subject
- On a grander scale, the movement literally moves the story forward by being motivated and related to the narrative that you're progressing
I don't care if this is social media content, YouTube videos, narrative pieces, or commercials. Everything needs to be backed by a story, and this is a huge concept that will help you create better content.
⚠️ Mistake #5: Using Too Much Warp Stabilization
Our last mistake isn't with the movement itself, but how we edit our projects - using too much warp stabilization to smooth out our movements.
This is another classic sign of an amateur content creator, and one that I want to help you avoid.
How Warp Stabilization Works
Warp stabilization is a great tool that can improve already smooth shots by making them even smoother.
The key: The shot needs to be somewhat smooth already.
The Problem
If you try to over-apply warp stabilization to a shot that isn't really smooth to begin with, 80% of the time you're gonna get a shot that has a ton of 3D warping, and it kind of looks like Jell-O.
This is NOT a magic pill that can just save any shaky shot and turn it into something professional looking.
💡 My Advice
Be honest with yourself: If a shot is just too shaky, either reshoot it or don't use it in your final video.
If you do use warp stabilizer or any similar effect:
- Keep the percentage low
- Keep an eye out for that warping Jell-O look
Key Takeaways: Top 5 Movement Mistakes
- Mistake #1: Trying to do too much - walk before you run, keep it simple and clean
- Mistake #2: Not picking the best portion - analyze entire shot, use only the cleanest segments
- Mistake #3: Too much of the same movement - unique movements should be used sparingly like seasoning
- Mistake #4: Unmotivated movement - always have a subject and reason, movement should enhance the story
- Mistake #5: Too much warp stabilization - only works on already smooth shots, don't try to save terrible footage
- Remember: 70% of Hollywood shots are tripod or simple movements
- Story first: Movement enhances but doesn't replace narrative
- Quality over quantity: 1 minute of perfect shots beats 2 minutes with errors
- Everything needs a story - applies to all content types
That does it for my top five beginner mistakes when it comes to movement in your videos.
Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next one.