180 Degree Rule of Filmmaking

The 180 degree rule is one of the fundamental principles of filmmaking. Anyone wishing to be a director or DP or who merely wants to better understand films should learn about it. Fortunately, it is an easy concept to understand.

What Is The 180 Degree Rule?

One of the most basic guidelines in making a film, the 180 degree rule, helps the audience comprehend the relationship of the characters and things in a scene. An imaginary line, sometimes called the axis, is drawn through the key characters and/or objects in a scene. By keeping the camera on one side of this axis for all the shots of the scene the characters will always appear to keep a logical relationship to each other on the screen. The 180 degree rule is a fundamental concept of continuity editing.

Changing the point of observation across the line might appear to the audience that the actors have suddenly jumped to another places in the scene. If the film director always obeys the 180 degrees rule the audience will be better able to understand the narrative with no uncertainty.

Observing the 180 degree rule is especially crucial throughout chase sequences involving two actors. If the action is first seen moving from left to right after that all shots in the chase need to maintain that orientation to keep it from seeming to the audience that the two characters have changed directions and the chase is now going in the opposite direction.

When the camera moves across the axis it is referred to as jumping the line or crossing the line. In reality such a change in viewpoint at some point in a chase sequence would only be appropriate in a comedy.

All the different shots taken of a scene for coverage need to follow the 180 degree rule unless the filmmaker has something special in mind.

How To Break the 180 Degree Rule

Creatively breaking the 180 degree rule will improve the movie storytelling when done properly. For example jumping the line may generate a subtle disorientation in the audience and consequently amplify emotional tension. A battle scene or a fast moving dance number would benefit from such a treatment. At times it may be required to have moving characters change direction and after that a shot needs to be inserted showing the characters turning a corner to preserve the logic of the movement.

Within a scene where a character is discussing the pros and cons of something with himself it might be effective to alter the position of the camera to make the single character appear almost like two actors having a discussion. If two or more actors are altering positions in a scene as part of the action that might appear to break the 180 degree rule the director wants to be careful to put in a new establishing shot to make it clear to the audience what is happening.

180 Rule - Basic Cinematography

Study about movie directing or simply increase your appreciation of the movies at the free film school 4Filmmaking.com. Study more about the 180 degree rule and many other concepts of film storytelling.

One of the most basic guidelines in creating a film, the 180 degree rule, supports the audience comprehend the relationship of the characters and things in a scene. An imaginary line, sometimes known as the axis, is drawn through the key characters and/or objects in a scene. By keeping the camera on one side of this axis for all the shots of the scene the characters will always appear to keep a logical relationship to each other on the screen. The 180 degrees rule is a fundamental concept of continuity editing.

Is An Online Film School A Practical Way To Learn Filmmaking?

Whether an online film school can give you everything you need to get started is doubtful. But it's a great way to get started. Check out my HubPages hub where I discuss what you can get from online film school resources

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A Chisel Does Not Make You Michaelangelo, Nor Does Film School

A chisel does not make you Michaelangelo anymore than taking a film making course makes you Steven Spielberg. That's just where you learn the basics you need to get started.

I've never tried to chisel marble but I'm guessing its not all the hard to learn. I'm also guessing that simply know how to chip at marble with a hammer and chisel isn't enough to create sculpture as fine as Michaelangelo, but that's where you start.

Film school plus years of practice, total determination, talent, contacts and some luck might turn you into a decent film director. Film school alone won't do it but that's where you start.

The basic techniques you need to know are surprisingly simple. Some of the top film directors have said they can be learned in a few weeks at most. If you want to learn them you don't need an expensive, top film school to learn them. There are many online film school resources to learn filmmaking.

Once you understand the basics just add total determination, talent, contacts and some luck.