Grammar of the Shot, 2nd Edition

Crab

Much like a crab on the seashore walks sideways, a dolly can be pushed left or right parallel to the action being recorded. In this case, however, even though the dolly is physically moving parallel to the subjects, the camera is facing the action in a perpendicular fashion. Traditionally, during the crab dolly, the camera moves at the same pace as the walking talent. Picture a person walking down the sidewalk of their urban neighborhood greeting the many people he encounters along the way. The camera and dolly would be set in the street and pushed along the street at the same pace as the actor as he progresses down the sidewalk. Parked cars may make up the foreground, the man and the neighbors would make up the middle ground, and the store ...