THE 180 DEGREE RULE

The ruleThe rule states that the camera(s) should

remain the same side of an imaginary lineThe line is drawn perpendicular the camera’s

viewpoint in the establishing shot of the scene

The rule enforces continuity of the filmAn example is that in a car chase scene, if the

car is travelling from right to left, the next shot must also be shot from the same side, meaning the car has to enter the frame right to left again

The same applies for football matches and other sport

Never break the ruleThe rule should never be brokenOnly defence for breaking the rule is ‘for

effect’Breaking the rule will confuse the audience,

especially in scenes of chase, conversation or sport

Camera must always be on one side of the line

This is an example of the rule being obeyed

Eye lineCrossing the line when filming over the

shoulder shots shifts the person’s eye line, meaning that the actors’ eye lines do not match

The two people should always be on the same side of frame in each shot

As seen below, crossing the line makes it look like the actor is looking in the opposite direction

Eye line

Results of breaking the ruleConfusion of audienceAudience lose focusBecome disorientatedMiss vital parts of the film

Ways around the ruleThe only way to cross the line without

disorientating the audience is to show the camera movement

You cannot cut across the line or the viewer will not be orientated

Once the line has been crossed, and movement shown, you have to stay on that side of the line, unless you show the movement back over it

Video exampleThis clip shows a violation of the rule used

for effectThe effect created is that of a

shot/reverse/shot, but really, the subject is just one character

Shot/reverse/shotThis is a film technique whereby one

character is shown looking at another off-screen character

The camera then cuts to the second character looking back at the first

The characters are shown facing opposite directions, so the audience assume they are looking at each other

Match on actionThis is a film technique used to ensure

continuityIt allows two different views of an action,

without distorting continuityFor example, if you film a person throwing a

ball in the air, you can then cut and film it from a different angle, making sure that the arm is in the same stage of motion at the beginning of the second shot as it was at the end of the first shot