Crash Zoom
A very fast zoom that snaps from a wide shot to a tight close-up with no easing, so the change feels sudden.
What it is
A crash zoom changes focal length very quickly, so the frame jumps from wide to tight in an instant. Unlike a slow push-in, it has no gentle ease at the start or end, so the change feels abrupt. The viewer is pulled into a detail, often a face or an object, with a jolt.
When to use it
A director uses it when a moment needs to land hard, such as a shock, a sudden realization, or a sharp rise in tension. It works best when the wide framing has set up a situation and the close-up reveals what matters. Repeated use dulls the effect, so it is usually saved for one key beat.
How to prompt it
Name the move directly as a crash zoom or snap zoom and say that it is sudden, not a slow push. State a clear wide start framing and a tight end framing so the model knows both. Video models often soften fast moves, so keep the duration short and use words like "instant" or "one sudden snap". This applies to Seedance, Kling, Veo, Sora, Runway and Wan alike.