Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted is loosely based on the invention of Pop-Tarts. Seinfeld’s feature directorial debut uses a shot inspired by the Steven Spielberg classic of 1975, Jaws. In the film, Spielberg uses the Dolly Zoom shot, which the Seinfeld creator has copied in his upcoming Netflix comedy. Seinfeld opened up about how such classic cinematic shots influenced him as a filmmaker.
Seinfeld’s film stars an ensemble cast including Jim Gaffigan, Hugh Grant, Melissa McCarthy, and Amy Schumer. Seinfeld, Barry Marder, who writes for Seinfeld’s stand-up shows, and Seinfeld writers Spike Feresten and Andy Robin wrote the screenplay of the film.
Jerry Seinfeld Took Inspiration From Jaws‘ Zolly Shot For Unfrosted
Unfrosted stars Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan appeared for an interview with Kevin McCarthy for Fox 5 DC. During the interview, McCarthy raised an interesting question about one shot used in their upcoming film. McCarthy, who caught an early screening of the film, noted how the famous Dolly Zoom shot was used in the movie.
Seinfeld shared with McCarthy that he called it the ‘Zolly Shot’. When the host shared that it was the same shot used in Alfred Hitchcock‘s Vertigo, Seinfeld asked him about the other projects where he had seen the same shot. McCarthy replied that the shot was made more popular by Steven Spielberg‘s 1975 classic Jaws. Seinfeld immediately replied, “That’s where we stole it from.”
In the famous ‘Get Out Of The Water’ scene from Jaws, the dolly zoom shot focuses on Roy Scheider’s Martin Brody as he shockingly sees the shark attack on the little boy Alex. The host further asked whether Seinfeld took inspiration from all the cinematic shots from his childhood favorite movies. The director confirmed that he had always loved cinematic shots, especially the lenses, focus, and angles of the camera that told a story of its own.
He further went on to explain his perspective that stand-up comedy is a visual medium more than a verbal medium. He shared that their words during the show were used to create a picture in the audience’s mind. Seinfeld’s interest in this type of visual storytelling also influenced his cinematic style in Unfrosted.
Not Only Unfrosted, Zolly Shot From Jaws Influenced Numerous Other Works
The original Dolly Zoom shot was first conceived by Alfred Hitchcock. He badly wanted to use it in his movie Rebecca in 1940, but the lack of proper camera technology didn’t get him his desired results. However, in 1958, he achieved success in creating the shot with the help of Paramount cameraman Irmin Roberts for the film Vertigo. Roberts designed a special camera capable of fast focal changes that allowed short-range projections.
The shot was made popular by Jaws and director Joe Dante coined the term Jaws Shot for the shot. Martin Scorsese was a big fan of the Zolly Shot and used it in his films Raging Bull and Goodfellas. In Goodfellas, the shot was used to create tension between the characters. It was also used in projects like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Shaun of the Dead, and Ratatouille.
One of the most famous modern-day uses of the shot was in James Gunn‘s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In the film, Ego manipulates Peter Quill into a trance-like state but when Chris Pratt‘s character realizes that Ego killed his mother he snaps out of the trance. Quill’s realization is conveyed through the dolly zoom shot.
Unfrosted is scheduled to be released on Netflix in the U.S. on May 3, 2024.
