180 Degree Rule

180 Degree Rule

The rule states that the camera should remain the same side of an imaginary line. The line is drawn perpendicular to the camera's viewpoint in the establishing shot of the scene. The rule enforces continuity of the film. An example of this is in a car chase scene, if the car is travelling from right to left, the next shot must also be shot from the same side, meaning the car has to enter the frame right to left again. This same rule applies for football matches and other sports. 

The rule should never be broken. The only time it should be broken is for 'effect'. Breaking the rule will confuse the audience, especially in scenes of chase, conversation or sport. The camera must be placed on one side of the line and must not cross over the line. 

Crossing the line when filming over the shoulder shots shifts the persons eye-line, meaning that the actors' eye-line do not match. The two people in the conversation must be on the same side of frame in each shot reverse shot. Crossing the line makes it look like the actor is looking in the opposite direction. 

Results of breaking the rule:

• Confusion of audience
• Miss vital parts of the film 
• Audience lose focus 
• Become disorientated 

Ways around the rule:

The only way to cross the line without disorientating the audience is to show the movement of the camera. You cannot cut across the line otherwise the viewer will not be orientated. Once the line has been crossed, and the movement shown, you have to stay on that side of the line, unless you show the movement back over it.  

Many horror and thriller films break the 180 degree rule to make the film feel disorientated and cause the audience to feel unsettled. This adds to the genre of the film and keeps the audience more engaged.