Ever wonder why Hollywood movies look so clean, but some videos can feel a bit… shaky?
It usually comes down to one thing: camera movement. Legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard once said that how you choose to move your camera dictates the whole mood and truth of your scene.
In big-budget films, camera crews often use a dolly and track (a massive, expensive camera rig on wheels with a train-style track) to get those silky-smooth tracking shots.
Shooting tracking shots: a camera crew shooting with a dolly and track
But if you’re making a short film and don’t happen to have the budget – or the floor space – around, then don’t worry. You can still achieve impressive tracking shots with a bit of imagination, know-how and care. Film history is packed with directors who hacked their way to greatness and have proved that you don’t need a massive budget to create cinematic magic.
Here are five everyday items that make great DIY camera dollies for those high impact tracking shots.
The Secret Film Technique in Tracking Shots: Parallax
Before we raid the cupboards, here is a quick pro-tip on why we do this and why tracking shots are so effective.
If you stand in one spot and just turn your camera left or right, that’s a pan (see here for some tips on how to pan from our partners at Canon). It usually looks okay. It’s ideal for applying in many circumstances, but sometimes the background can stay a little flat and you might want a shot that’s a bit more lively.
When you physically move the camera through space (tracking shots), you get a visual effect called parallax. This is where the objects close to your lens move past really fast, while things in the background move slowly. It instantly gives your flat screen a massive sense of 3D depth and it’s also great for moving the audience along with the characters and bringing them close to the action.
5 DIY Dolly Hacks for Impressive Tracking Shots on Zero Budget
The Kitchen Towel Slide
- Best for: Super smooth table-top tracking shots, product reveals or dramatic close-ups.
- How to do it: Grab a microfibre cloth or a tea towel and place it on a smooth counter or hardwood floor. Set your phone or camera right on top of the fabric. Slowly pull or push the towel. The soft fabric absorbs all those tiny hand jitters, giving you a perfect slider effect.
The Skateboard Low-Angle
- Best for: Edgy, low-to-the-ground tracking shots following a character’s feet or skateboarding tricks.
- How to do it: A skateboard’s wheels are built for smooth gliding, especially on a level surface. Rest your camera carefully on the deck and secure it with tape. Crouch down, and roll it alongside your actor.
The Rolling Office Chair
- Best for: Following an actor walking down a hallway or a smooth “push-in” on someone’s face.
- How to do it: Fun fact! Indie film legend Robert Rodriguez used a standard medical wheelchair as a budget dolly for his first movie. You can do the exact same thing with a rolling desk chair. Sit in the chair, brace your elbows against your ribs to stabilise the camera and have a friend slowly push you. The chair’s springs act like natural suspension.
The Swivel Stool 360
- Best for: Spinning 360-degrees around a subject to show confusion, realisation, or just a music-video vibe.
- How to do it: Trying to spin around someone handheld usually looks messy. Instead, sit on a rotating stool or desk chair, lock your arms and have someone spin the chair at a constant speed. It keeps the rotation perfectly centred.
The Camera Strap “Neck Tension” Hack
- Best for: Getting smooth, steady walking tracking shots when you can’t use wheels.
- How to do it: If your camera or phone rig has a neck strap, put it around your neck and push the camera straight out in front of you until the strap is completely tight. By creating tension between your neck and your hands, you create a third point of contact. This mimics a professional stabiliser and completely smooths out the bouncing steps when you walk alongside an actor.
Bonus Smartphone Hack: The Cardboard Box Jib
Shooting on a phone? Try this extra tip:
Cut a precise, phone-sized rectangular slot into the bottom flap of a small, sturdy cardboard box so the phone camera lens can peek straight through. Now you can easily tape the box to the end of a broomstick or mop handle to create a DIY jib arm. Slide it smoothly across a ceiling beam, a door frame, or guide it through the air by hand for sweeping, stabilised overhead shots that look big-budget.
The 10-Minute Challenge: Grab one item from this list right now. Shoot a 5-second clip handheld, then shoot the exact same move using one of these hacks. Check out the difference. It’s an instant level-up for your filmmaking toolkit.
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