Making a movie is an incredibly expensive venture, but indie filmmakers know that a little money can actually get you pretty far if you're clever enough. Case in point, getting professional-level tracking and dolly shots with a super cheap DIY dolly! In this tutorial, Logan Baker of PremiumBeat walks you through the process of building a $50 dolly out of plywood, PVC pipe, and wheels from a rollerskate. Check it out below:

To be honest, dollies are not incredibly difficult to engineer. I mean, most people can come up with a pretty decent design in their heads without being all that talented at crafting stuff (like me). However, it's helpful to know how other people have built theirs who have achieved some level of success with their designs. I'm speaking from experience—my first makeshift dolly was—a real joke.

Here's are the materials you're going to need:

  • 1/4" hex bolts (8)
  • 1/4" nuts (16)
  • 1/4" washers (8)
  • 2'x2' plywood board
  • L brackets (8)
  • Wheels (8)
  • 2" PVC pipe (2)

Now that you've got the lowdown on how to build your own dolly, here's a video that shows you how to use it:

What are some other ideas for DIY dollies? Let us know what you've built in the comments below!

Source: PremiumBeat

dollydolliesdiyDIY dollyCamera Movement
Cinematography & Cameras