What's a Crane Shot?

In filmmaking and video production, a crane shot is a shot taken by a camera on a moving crane or jib. Most cranes accommodate both the camera and an operator, but some can be moved by remote control.

Why would a crane shot be used?

Crane shots are often used to capture emotional or suspenseful scenes, or as a way to zoom out from the set or characters to signify the end of a film.

What is a crane shot example?

One example of this technique is the shots taken by remote cranes in the car-chase sequence of the 1985 film To Live and Die in L.A.. Some filmmakers place the camera on a boom arm simply to make it easier to move around between ordinary set-ups.