Film 101

The 180 Degree Rule

The rule

Draw an imaginary line through the action and keep every camera on the same side of it.

Why it matters

Violating the rule is jarring to the viewer. Characters appear to swap places without anyone actually moving.

1. Camera position

2. Screen result

Positions hold

This shot establishes A on the left and B on the right.

Moving subjects

The path of movement becomes the line. Stay on one side so the subject keeps traveling in one screen direction.

Same side

She keeps moving left to right.

Crossed line

She suddenly appears to move right to left.

Put one caller on the left looking right. Put the other on the right looking left. Their eyelines will meet across the cut.

Same side

Opposite eyelines make the callers face each other.

Crossed line

Matching eyelines make the callers face the same way.

Let the audience see the screen direction change.

1Move the camera across. Show the camera crossing in one continuous shot.
2Reposition the characters. Show one character moving past the other. Their new positions create a new action line.
3Use a neutral shot. Cut to a camera placed on the line, then establish the new side.

1
Repeat the screen positions
Name who is frame-left, who is frame-right, and which way each person looks in every prompt.
2
Repeat the camera side
Use the same anchor each time, such as “camera on the window side of the table.”
3
Check before editing
Place the shots side by side. Speakers should face each other; movement should keep the same direction.