Where Must The Camera Be Placed In Relation To The Axis Of Action?

I f you're a filmmaker of whatsoever kind, you need to know the rules of cinema and video product. Understanding these rules requite y'all control over your images.

I of the most of import rules to know is the 180 degree dominion.

We've put together a guide that will teach you how to follow the 180 degree rule, besides equally interruption and bend information technology so that you lot can cross the line confidently.

1. What is the 180 Caste Rule?
2. Follow the 180 Degree Dominion
3. How to Match Multiple Eyelines
4. Manage Vehicles & Multiple Objects
5. Breaking the 180 Degree Rule
6. Films That Pause the 180 Dominion
7. How to Curve the 180 Caste Rule

How to Follow & Intermission the 180 Caste Rule in Pic

The 180 Degree rule

1. What is the 180 Degree Rule?

I of the first things taught in moving picture school is the 180 caste line.

Information technology's a helpful jumping off point because it introduces you to a practical rule of cinema, and invites you to remember visually.

Let's leap right in, and get you caught upward on one of the most important rules to know for any type of video product.

180 Caste Rule Definition

What is the 180 degree rule?

The 180 degree rule is a filmmaking guideline for spatial relations between two characters on screen. The 180 dominion sets an imaginary axis, or centre line, between two characters or between a character and an object. By keeping the photographic camera on ane side of this imaginary centrality, the characters maintain the same left/correct relationship to each other, keeping the space of the scene orderly and like shooting fish in a barrel to follow.

When the camera jumps over the invisible axis, this is known equally crossing the line or breaking the line, and information technology can produce a disorienting and distracting upshot on a viewer.

What does the 180 degree rule do?

• Following the rule volition institute orientation.
• Breaking the rule will disorient and signal unease.
• Bending the rule signals a gradual change in your scene.

180 degree rule in video production

2. How to follow the 180 caste rule

The rule states that one time you lot've established your line, you must then make up one's mind which side of the line you will place each subsequent camera setup.

In short, you lot need to go on your camera on the aforementioned side of "The Line."

Otherwise, you lot've crossed the line.

Here is a the eatery scene from ane of the best crime movies Rut that practices the 180 line perfectly.

The 180 caste line runs across the table through Pacino to De Niro…

Watch the video, just pay attention to their eyeline:

180 Caste Line  •Heat

Pacino looks camera correct.

De Niro looks camera left.

This is done so the viewer tin go along a sense of orientation during the scene.

Some films and filmmakers have elected to go along a consistent line throughout their entire film. This level of consistency is fantastic, and those films surely benefit from such ruthless attention to detail, but isn't necessary for every story.

In that location are moments where you can benefit from breaking or angle the 180 degree rule, and while they are upwards to estimation, the feeling a line breaks generates should inform your decision.

If it doesn't, you may be wasting cinematic energy.

180 caste dominion & group Eyeline Match

three. Manage scenes with multiple centre lines

If you find yourself filming a scene with a group of characters, it helps to call back of your set up as though it were a stage play, with the camera placed in the audience.

The same line that separates the viewer from the performers is the same line yous volition utilise to maintain a abiding screen direction.

180 Degree Line  •Heat

Y'all can get past this line, and endeavor to establish individual lines between each graphic symbol, but each time you exercise this you will dilate the degree of difficulty for maintaining a consistent orientation throughout the scene.

Continue your camera setups "in the seats," y'all'll exist able to maintain a unmarried line.

This is also when film blocking becomes important, especially when you're working with a group of actors.

Sentry the video essay below to acquire how to block your scenes effectively:

Moving-picture show Blocking Techniques  •  Subscribe on YouTube

180 caste rule with Objects & Vehicles

iv. Manage vehicles & moving objects

The 180 caste rule is important for dialogue scenes, only it's absolutely vital for scenes with a character or when shooting a auto chase.

If your car is driving from right to left…

When you lot cut, both the motorcar and the characters should be moving in a consistent screen management, otherwise information technology looks similar we're headed back where we came from.

Here's an splendid (and rather silly) example from 1 of the all-time comedy movies Dumb and Dumber.

You'll discover how the screen direction is maintained from Nebraska to Aspen, and this helps the audition establish orientation over slap-up distances.

180 Degree Line  • Dumb & Dumber

Breaking the 180-Caste Rule

5. Crossing the line in motion-picture show

When y'all break the 180 caste line, y'all break the 180 degree rule and signal to the viewer that something is wrong.

This should only be done intentionally, and thoughtfully.

Here is a scene from i of the many Spike Lee masterpieces 25th Hour.

The line runs beyond the room through Ed Norton to the Detective played past Isiah Whitlock Jr.

It's clear that Spike Lee's goal was to disorient viewers and put them in the shoes of Edward Norton's character.

Let'southward get-go by looking at the centre-line match:

180 caste Line  •  25th Hr

Ed Norton is looking camera left…

Isiah Whitlock Jr. is also looking camera left.

Our protagonist is surprised by a drugs bust.

This is an unexpected moment, and it doesn't make sense in the grapheme's mind. He thinks, "Why would the DEA be at my firm?"

This situation is chaotic, and Fasten Lee illustrates it past effectively breaking the 180 degree dominion.

We've put together a shot list of the entire scene to clearly visualize how many times Fasten decided to break the 180 degree rule.

Await beneath:

Click to enlarge this 180 caste line break

It'south also worth mentioning there are a variety of shot types and angles in this scene.

The shot size on the Whitlock Jr. is somewhere between a close-up and a medium close-upwardly ,   just the shot on Ed Norton is a medium shot at a low-bending .

If you use StudioBinder when shot list, all these specs are listed equally checkboxes for easy selection.

Crossing the Line with Purpose

6. Films that break the 180 caste rule

You're probably trying to think of a few times in popular films and telly where the manager bankrupt the 180 caste dominion on purpose.

Here is a small list a few popular films that do it well:

• The Shining
• Requiem for a Dream
• Do the Right Thing
• American Beauty
• 25th Hour
• Hulk

Have a wait at this scene from one of the all-time Darren Aronofsky movies Requiem for a Dreamconspicuously crossing the 180-degree line:

180 Caste Line  •Requiem for a Dream

The scene begins on the low-cal side of their faces, when the chat is by and large positive, then, as Harry hears Sarah grinding her teeth and the conversation takes a negative turn, the camera pans around to the night side of their faces. So elementary, nonetheless and then powerful.

Angle the 180 degree line

7. Bend the 180 degree dominion

At present you lot know how to follow the 180 degree rule.

You likewise know how to break the 180 caste rule.

It'southward fourth dimension to larn how to bend it.

NEUTRAL SHOT

This is a shot straight on top of the line. When yous do this, your line resets because in that location is no longer a side of the line. A proficient example of this is a shot that is directly behind an player'due south head — or direct on their face.

180 Degree Line  • Ocean's 11

The shot on Reuben from one of the best heist movies Body of water's Eleven is a neutral shot.

Instead of using a POV shot for the reverse, Soderbergh elects to place his camera on the right side of the line.

CAMERA Motility

This is where we physically encounter the photographic camera motion across the line during an uninterrupted shot inside a scene.

The viewer is aware of when we cross the line, and their orientation within the scene is maintained — carried over from the previous 180 degree line.

180 Degree Line  •Rut

Not just a moving photographic camera can add together a lot to your cinematography, but using a line bend like this is besides a slap-up mode to signal to a viewer that something has slowly changed.

This shot dollies from behind the Neil, who is in a guarded position, to in front of Neil, who is now open minded and accepting of Eady'southward company.

This is besides when camera move becomes really important, peculiarly in the scenes where the direction you move says something as well.

Watch the video essay beneath to larn what's the best camera motion for any blazon of scene:

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Subscribe on YouTube

CUTAWAYS

This is when you cut away from your actors to a shot that has no established orientation, thus resetting the 180 degree line.

Cutaways are useful for many reasons, so you may finish up using  one during your scene without even realizing you could follow it up with a line change.

180 Degree Line  •  Hero

The 180 degree dominion is like whatsoever other rule in the globe...

It'due south there to protect you!

But on a closed course, with trained professionals, crossing the line tin requite you unique and astonishing results.

Up next

Breaking the Quaternary Wall for Touch on

Congratulations! Now you empathise the 180 degree dominion. Yous tin follow it like a pro. You know how, and why, to break information technology by crossing the line. You also take some tools to help yous bend the 180 degree rule.

The 180 degree rule is just one of the rules in filmmaking that can be cleaved. The second one is breaking the 4th wall to bear upon audiences.

Up Next: How to Break The 4th Wall →

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Source: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-the-180-degree-rule-film/

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