180 Degree Rule

The 180 Degree Rule is one of the most if not the most important rules whilst filming. If you do not follow this rule especially when filming a scene between two subjects such as dialogue at a table between the two then the audience watching can become disoriented to which perspective they are viewing the scene from. The 180 degree rule is fairly straightforward. Imagine a line going through the middle of two people having a face to face conversation. Lets say you have a two shot from the side on so you have one person on the left and one on the right. Now from this perspective the camera can be anywhere from the left persons right shoulder to the right persons left shoulder. Any angle between the two is fine however if you are to cross the line down the middle of the two then you have just broken the rule since the audiences perspective has now changed leaving them confused as to who is where, Understand? Watch the video above for a better explanation.