~ 180 Rule ~

Lets talk about rules; the 180 rule  

       The 180 rule for filming states; the camera should remain the same side of an imaginary line, and should not go past 180 degrees when filming from a certain position or angle. The rule is there to help continuity of the film, to help the films pace flow. So the audience or film doesn't get confusing at different shots or angles that do not flow to each other. The camera must be on the same side of the line when filming a scene, breaking the rule will confuse the audience, being hard to understand the narrative if the shots do not flow into each other. If completely opposite camera shots are used for a scene.

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     Using this rule, the audience will know which way characters are looking, also where everything is in the scene. Also the audience will not be confused if the angles and shots were used from the other side. The camera should not turn from right to left relationships of the characters in the scene. Characters in the shot should be the same side of the frame in each scene. Otherwise their eye line in the scenes will not match if looking at each other. Which will confuse audiences if different shots are being used on the different sides, that doesn't show their eye line are at the same level. 

   

      The purpose of using the 180 rule is so it makes the films pace flow and does not confuse the audience if shots are from different sides and angles. Its to make sure it does not confuse audiences on the scene and how they are viewing the scene, giving the film pace for audiences to fully understand the scene and how it is shot by its angles. Also the 180 rule is there to help develop and drive the narrative. Its to help the narrative be understood by the audience, not to be confusing by different sides being shot of a scene. So audiences know where the story line is being set and they know what the characters in the scene are doing from one side and where they are looking. Filming from a different side in a scene will just confuse the audience where the characters are looking and where they stand in the scene. Also to make sure the audience are not confused where characters in the scene Stand to each other. 

       Here is a short film example explaining the use of the 180 rule and where it is placed in the movie they use as an example. 

 

    But sometimes in films, it is ok to break the rule if you have a valid reason why. Most film makers, if they break the 180 rule, are doing so to add an effect to the scene that doesn't involve the rule. But the film or scene will still have to look effective without using the 180 rule. Making sure the audience still understand the scene, and are not confuse with the 180 rule not being used. 

     An example of a film that breaks the 180 rule is in a scene from the The Getaway; released in 1972, it shows the rule being broken. When the main character of the film sees the women sitting their at the station. The camera moves to the other side of the 180 rule to see his face. This work for the scene as it is showing a two way shot. Ones characters face to another, cutting about twice between their faces. It works as it does not confuse the audience. Showing both their characters reactions and emotions in a close up, the scene does not confuse the audience what is happening, as each scene makes clear where each character stands compared to each other. While breaking the 180 rule work for this scene in the Getaway.