180 Degree Rule

 

The 180 Degree rule is a term and technique used while recrording two people (or more) often whilst they exchange dialect. The image shown gives an overall idea of what to do and what not to do in terms of the rule.

 

The green line shows the 180 degree arc in which the cameras are supposed to be filming the two characters. This arc makes the scene look symmetrical when the cameras look over each characters shoulder. The camera may be placed anywhere on the green 180° arc and the spatial relationship between the two characters will be consistent from shot to shot, even when one of the characters is not on screen.

 

 The 180-degree rule enables the audience to visually connect with unseen movement happening around and behind the immediate subject and is important in the narration of battle scenes.

However, sometimes the 180 degree rule can be broken and this could be used to some effect. For example, to disorientate the audience in a fight scene or a chase scene in which the characters may be disorientated \also. This would rlat the audience to the characters.