~The 180 degree rule~

The Rule:

The 180 rule tells us that we cannot go over a certain point when we are filming someone or something. This rule is set in place because if it is broken, things will appear in different place sin each cut which can be confusing for the audience. This will result in the audience losing interest. As the rule suggests, you can only use half of the scene from the point of the characters. The diagram and the story board will show you how exactly the 180 rule is set.

Because we have started on the right hand side of this circle, we can move about anywhere on that side of the circle. We CAN NOT then cut and be shooting from the other side of the circle, because the person we are filming will be on the opposite side which will be confusing because we would be asking ourselves how they got on that side when we clearly saw them on the other side.

Breaking the 180 Rule

There is however a way to break the rule in a legit way. You would have to move the camera past the line without going to a cut. So as the diagram on the right suggests. The audience will know that the characters positions have changed. The video below does not break the rule properly and you will see a huge change in the way you do things because they broke it the incorrect way. The boy who first walks in appears on the other side of the setting and then back again. They have broken the rule.

Realising the rule

The storyboard below shows the 180 degree rule. If you observe this properly you will notice the characters always stay on their side of each shot; they never end up on different sides. On board 2 and 3 you can also see their heads are on different sides, this re-enforces the 180 degree rule because if their heads were on the same side it would be saying that they are on the same side. Its evident that they are not on the same side from the shots. This is why the 180 degree rule is paramount and why there is a specific way you can break it