180 Degree Rule

Why is the 180 Degree Rule is one of the most important rules to follow when making a film. What is so important about it?

The 180 Well, the rule is that when you want to film 2 characters for incidence, and that they are being filmed by the camera has the view over one of the character’s shoulder, you must make sure that the cameras are on the same side of one of the red lines if you could see in the picture above. And facing each other of course.

Why should the cameras be on the same side on one line?

It is important that you keep the cameras on one side of one of the lines because they will both have a clear shot of which way each character is facing at the right direction. For example, the camera behind Mr. Purple is filming a shot of what point of view Mr. Purple can see. So you then have a shot of Mr. Purple’s shoulder on the right hand side, while Mr. Orange, is being seen from the left hand side of the camera‘s point of view. Or it could be the other way if you want it to be.
But if this rule is broken, say for incidence, you take one of the camera’s across one of the lines, you then will end up filming a shot of what would look like Mr. Purple and Mr. Orange’s point of view, being seen staring in the same direction which will make the audience confused.

There are a few occasions where you can break the rule, but I would recommend you do it while Filming instead of just shots, so the audience would know that the camera has moved in another direction.