Media 180 rule

180 degree rule for filming purposes The 180 degree rule, or the axis of action, is the imaginary line which is presented through two people’s eye contact. When shooting the scene of these two people, the camera cannot pass over the half circle or else the footage would become distorting and confusing instead of reinforcing continuity in filming. The red line is the axis of action. The blue box represents the camera, and as shown the camera moves within 180® but not over the line. Abiding by this rule means that the person being shot can be shown making eye contact with someone off camera and it not looking that both people on the scene are looking in the same direction. If the 180® rule must be broken (i.e more than one person in the scene) then there are ways to make the scene look adequate. If the line of action must be crossed, it must be shown on camera, and not a cut scene jumping from one perspective to another. If the 180° rule is being excercised in a scene, then to begin with a wide shot of the people involved in the scene would be an appropriate shot to begin with. This shows the audience how the setting is layed out and which direction the people’s eye line is. Person 2 Person 1

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Transcript of Media 180 rule

180 degree rule for filming purposes

The 180 degree rule, or the axis of action, is the imaginary line which is presented through two people’s eye contact. When shooting the scene of these two people, the camera cannot pass over the half circle or else the footage would become distorting and confusing instead of reinforcing continuity in filming.

The red line is the axis of action. The blue box represents the camera, and as shown the camera moves within 180® but not over the line. Abiding by this rule means that the person being shot can be shown making eye contact with someone off camera and it not looking that both people on the scene are looking in the same direction. If the 180® rule must be broken (i.e more than one person in the scene) then there are ways to make the scene look adequate. If the line of action must be crossed, it must be shown on camera, and not a cut scene jumping from one perspective to another.

If the 180° rule is being excercised in a scene, then to begin with a wide shot of the people involved in the scene would be an appropriate shot to begin with. This shows the audience how the setting is layed out and which direction the people’s eye line is.

Person 2 Person 1

As shown above, the 180 rule is in action. In these shots you can see ‘over the shoulder’ of one person and see the other person in front of them. The same goes for when the camera looks at the opposite side of the room. Using this rule manages to keep the scene at ease and casual.

If a person is shown walking then the line of action changes into whichever direction the person is walking in. For example, if the person took a right in their direction then the camera must stay within the 180 degrees of the right turn.

Person 1