180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is a guideline film making that instructs that two characters, or other elements in a shared same scene should always have the same right/left relationship to each other. The rule creates an imaginary line (axis) which generally the camera cannot cross. The camera can be in any position from one side of the line and the character or elements will have the same positioning relationship.

This diagram shows how the 180 degree rule works. When from the green side the characters appear in one way, but if the camera is moved to the red side the characters appear to switch places. The line shown is the line which the camera can't cross.

 Although some directors chose to cross this line and the shot can be taken from the other side, this is called a reverse angle. Although not many film makers use this as it can be confusing andf disorintating for the viewer.


Preliminary Task

During a media lesson I carried out a preliminary task. This task was filming a simple scene in which a student walks down a hallway, enters a classroom, sits down beside another student then passes an object to the other student. During this scene I used the 180 degree rule and used match-on-action. This task tested my knowledge of the 180 degree rule and other basic film making skills and putting them into action. After this task it enhanced my knowledge of the rule as it gave me the ability to practically work with actors and how cameras must be placed on the one side of the invisable line if a director wishes not to break the rule. But also this task taught me how a director can move a camera and show crossing the line if they want to break the rule, by showing the camera move it stops the audience from getting disorintated.