Workshop- the 180 degree rule

 The 180 Degree Rule

In the workshop, we studied one of the most important rule in filmmaking which is the 180 degrees rule.

What is the 180 degree rule?

The 180 degree rule is also know as - crossing the line.

This is a technique use for helping the audiences know where the characters are.

Here are some examples we got showed in the workshop:

Pictures below is screenshot from the film Heat. The two characters seat opposite each other. Pacino seating on the left and Robert Di Nero on the right side. In the third picture we can see the line between them is the 180 degree line, so the director can film from any angle from that semi-circle. Make sure that they are on the right side, so Pacino is always on the left looking to the right and Robert is on the right looking to the left.

This is how you can film this scene:

We see the camera is always on the side where show the right direction.

Why is the 180 degree rule important?

In the last example, there are two different actors, but in the next example, we see two actors wearing the same mask so it is very difficult for audiences to recognize who is who. This is where the 180 degree rule is very helpful for the audiences.

Keep the camera on the right side of the semi-circle, so the audiences know who is speaking. If the camera is set up on another side, then the actor who should be on the left side will show up on screen on the right side, this can confused the audiences.

Before start to filming, it is important to decide the position of the actors and set up the line between the,

Here is a WRONG example:

We see the two characters' position. 

The screenshot below is where the cameras should be set.

If we swop the side. set the camera on the other side of the circle, this is what is going to happen...

The character on the left side is looking to the left side, which feels wrong to the audiences.

Activity

After the workshop I did some activities base on what I have learnt:

I chose two objects and placed a pen between them as the 180 degree line.

These are some pictures I took, follow the rule...

Here is a WRONG example:

Because as the first picture showed, the white one should be on the right side, but because I placed the camera on the other semi-circle area, so that is why it looks very wrong from this angle.