What is the 180 rule?

Michael B. McGee

Michael B. McGee

Well-known member
can someone explain or post a link to the reasoning behind the 180 degree rule when shooting a scene? i've had it explained to me before, but i'm still not exactly sure what angles can be shot during coverage.

thanks in advance.

-mike
 
Draw an imaginary line between the two main subjects of a scene (i.e. 2 people talking to each other). Whatever side of that line you decide to place your camera on for your first set up, do not cross over that imaginary line as you shoot various coverage shots (i.e. CU's, medium shots. wide, etc.). Otherwise, your subjects will be constantly looking in different directions as you edit your coverage together.
 
There is a great bit on screen direction in the book "Cinematography" by Blain Brown. - good read if your interested in keeping screen direction!
 
"You’re pirates. Hang the Code! And hang the rules! They're more like guidelines, anyway."
 
Funny thing is that "crossing the line rule" is intended to suggest to the viewer that the actors are actually looking at each other (or not as the case maybe).

BTW - a simple way to remeber the rule and shoot the angles (if you subscribe to the "not crossing the line as a rule" school) is screen left to right and the opposite angle is screen right to left (vice versa)
 
It covers any kind of frame-crossing movement or visual direction.

A train crossing frame is probably actually a better example, than matching eye lines.
 
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