Workshop 2: 180 degree rule

The 180-degree rule is a ‘cinematography guideline that states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another.’ 

Imagine drawing a circle around the two points of interest in the scene e.g a person and an object. Then cut that circle down the middle through both points of interest. The film crew then choose one side to film. This is shown in the diagram on the right.

By keeping The camera on one side of the image, it is easier for the audience to grasp where the characters are looking and who they are talking to, otherwise it can look like they are talking to themselves.

I tried to use what I had learnt and created three images of different shots that are commonly used in 180 degree rule scenes. I filmed a wide, over the shoulder and close up shot.