The Prelim Podcast I Episode 22 — Eric "EZ" Zucker

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Prelim Podcast, our guest is the legendary key grip, dolly grip, and crane operator Eric Zucker—known across sets everywhere simply as “EZ.” Growing up surfing the waves of Huntington Beach and Venice, EZ originally entered the industry through the electric department after running three successful surf shops in Manhattan Beach. But once he got his hands on a dolly and felt the mechanics of moving camera, he never looked back. In this episode, EZ breaks down the evolution of camera movement—from fixed arms and laying track in the early days to the game-changing arrival of the TechnoCrane in the late ’90s. He shares his core philosophy on set: always thinking 3 to 4 shots ahead, operating with intuition alongside the Camera Operator or Cinematographer, and asking the one question that drives every setup: “How am I gonna make the dialogue move next to the background?” Plus, EZ opens up about: * The A-Dolly vs. B-Dolly Dynamic: Earned accountability, selling the story, and acting as the department head of motion. * Old School vs. Modern Workflows: Transitioning from shooting on film with zero monitors to navigating remote operating and COVID protocols on One Night in Miami. * On-Set Safety & High-Stakes Moments: How a crane operator serves as the ultimate line of defense—including a heart-pounding near-miss car flip on The Mentalist and surviving a crane strike on the mountains of Peru while shooting Transformers. * Communication & Craft: Why great dolly work is about making the operator’s job effortless, why he’s not a fan of handheld, and what happens when a young grip accidentally pushes a dolly off the track with the DP on board! Packed with real talk, technical breakdown, and decades of Hollywood experience, this is an absolute masterclass for anyone who wants to understand the precision, pressure, and teamwork required to operate at the top of the Grip and Camera Departments. Sponsored by our friends at Pro-Cam: Specialty Gear by Chapman / Leonard Creating Moments through Movement 🎬 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday 📲 Follow us @ThePrelimPodcast on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & Twitter #filmindustry, #crewsetstories, #theprelimpodcast, #hollywoodsetstories, #behindthescenes, #moviecrews, #setlife