Film grammar / Camera movements
Push-In
The camera moves slowly toward the subject; tension or realisation builds.
What it is
A push-in moves the camera physically closer to the subject (on a dolly, slider or gimbal). Unlike a zoom, the perspective changes, so the background shifts naturally.
When to use it
A slow push-in is the single most useful move in drama: it tells the audience "pay attention, something is changing inside this person".
How to prompt it
Write "slow push-in" and keep the subject action small. In Kling and Seedance, adding "the camera slowly moves closer" in plain English increases reliability.
Slow push-in on a young priest kneeling in an empty stone church lit by hundreds of candles, a flame gutters as a door creaks behind him.
20 examples in the library
Night Bus Stop
slow push-inwide
The Room
slow push-inmedium
Blue Glow
slow push-inclose-up
Bamboo Duel
slow push-infull
Set
slow push-inmedium
The Vault
slow push-infull
Dead Mall
slow push-inextreme-wide
The Cottage
slow push-inwide
Porch
slow push-inwide