180 Degree Rule

180 Degree Rule

 

 

 

The 180 degree rule is put in place to stop the characters appearing to jump around to the audience. This is done through an imaginary line called an axis, where the camera must remain on the same side of the line throughout the scene. For example, character 1 (blue shirt) will always remain on the right of the screen and character 2 (orange shirt) will always remain on the left. However if you break this rule, it is called crossing the line and if you wish to do so, you must track through with the camera.

 

A short clip to demonstrate the rule:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CmUN3tg0i0

 

This screen grab shows the axis (imaginary line) and how it should be placed between two characters.

 

 Breaking the Rule

These two screen grabs show what happens if the rule is broken. As you can see the characters are both looking the same way, which gives the impression that they are sitting on the same side of the table, rather than opposite each other. 

This would also confuse the viewer as she was previously on the opposite side of the screen. This gives the impression that the character is jumping.