New filmmaker asking a basic question...Axis

D

dale

New member
Hey,

I'm sorry if this is really basic but I can't find a good explanation that doesn't confuse me. I'm not stupid really.

I keep hearing about the "Axis" in film and "don't cross it" or you'll confuse your audience and anger your editor. I know that it's an imaginary line that goes from left to right through the scene. But how would you cross it?
Can someone explain this definition for me and if anyone has a diagram or anything that would be great.

cheers
 
Imagine viewing a basketball game among clones. Both teams wear identical colors. Team "A" is on the left. Team "B" is on the right. The "axis" is the line from team A to team B. As a viewing audience member, you can watch the game from home without confusion as long as you know that team "A" is on the left, and team "B" is on the right.

That means that the cameraman can film anything up to and on the line, but once they "cross the line", the teams positions get switched around. To the camera, once you cross the line, Team "B" is now on the left and team "A" is now on the right. Now if the director were to cut from one side of the line to the other, and you the viewer were to see the angle on the other side of the line, you would be confused as to who was who.

How this translates to film, imagine a battle scene where the hero is running toward a bunker, left to right. If the director (or DP) were to cross the line, and the editor used that shot next, the hero would then be running right to left. Even though he was filmed always running the same direction, to the viewer, he is now running away from the bunker, causing confusion. The line in this instance is the line from the Hero the bunker.

This also is important with eyelines. If Joe is on the left, and Jane is on the right, Jor should look right to see Jane. If we cross the line, and see Joe looking left, the viewer may be lost, wondering, "now who is he looking at?"

Now there are other factors, like having 3 or more people, and having inanimate objects, like a vase of flowers in between two people seated at a table. These situations can add confounding factors and should be considered. You can also "Cross the line" in a legitimate way by having the camera move across the line and showing that to the viewer, or having joe or jane change positions, while on camera. Just some other things that make "crossing the line" hard to figure out some times.

My best advice: get a good script supervisior. you will never go back.

-j
 
The above post is exactly what you need to know about the 180 degree rule, especially the part about Scripty.

I would also like to bring up breaking the rule. If it is done for no reason, you will only confuse your audience, and, quite possibly ruin the scene. This is one of the things that Director will be the most angry about. If you cross the line on purpose, however, it can be used to intentionally confuse the audience. Watch the opening scene to Gladiator... crossing of the line abounds wildly during that scene, and helps to add to the mayhem of the action.
 
Thanks guys, got it.

John, awesome thread. I like the idea of the "neutral" shot that was pointed out a few pages in. Has anyone ever witnessed a shot that someone has crossed the line without using a "neutral" shot?
 
You can let the actors move the line for you, or cross it in a dolly move.
 
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