Production · term
Lateral tracking shot
Also known as sideways dolly, lateral dolly, Chinese dolly (deprecated).
A camera move that travels sideways across a scene, generally parallel to the subject’s path or the set.
In practice
The move may use track, a dolly, stabilized camera, vehicle, or robotic platform. Some older crews used an ethnicized nickname for this move; “lateral tracking shot” or “sideways dolly” is clearer and respectful.
Usage note
The ethnicized alias is deprecated and included only to support recognition of older material.
Explore related entries
Sources
- E-learning glossary · ScreenSkills
Educational reference only. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, employer, venue, and production context.