Cinefade variable depth of field effect - creative ideas

[Oliver Janesh Christiansen]

The novel Cinefade VariND has been available for over a year now and there are some great examples of how cinematographers have used the variable depth of field effect in narrative storytelling and commercials (Examples).

It's still a new effect though and I'm wondering how else you would use the Cinefade in your post-covid projects? Reveal a bad guy lurking in the background by extending depth of field? Combine with a Dolly Zoom effect? Let's get creative...

[AJ Young]

I believe the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World did something like this effect for one shot. I can't remember exactly where in the movie, but it's pretty close to this I think. They used the effect for the character realizing something grave.

[Oliver Janesh Christiansen]

I wonder if they did it in post or practically on set. I have seen some examples of it being done in post, for example in TV series Bodyguard (not great result).