Homework

The 180 Degree Rule:

There is an imaginary line that connects two subjects in a scene. On one side of this line they will be in a specific left-right relationship and therefore, to provide coherency and flow, the camera should never pass the line. However, if the camera does cross the line, the relationship will be reversed.

Reverse Shot:

A reverse shot is a shot from a reversed angle. It is commonly found during dialogue scenes; in the corner or side of the frame there will be the back of a character who is either listening or speaking to the other character who the camera is focused on.

Match On Action:

When an action is taking place and there is a cut, the second shot must match the first shot in pace and movement. If a character begins an action in shot one, it must be completed in shot two in order to be continuous.

Sample Video:

Here is a dialogue scene in which two characters are conversing at a diner table:



Not once does the camera cross the axis connecting the two characters. There are a variety of camera angles and movements, but the camera is always positioned on one side of the table and therefore one side of the 180 degree line.

There are also some reverse shots in the video too. Because of the 180 degree rule, when over-the-shoulder angles are shot, the back of the women is always framed to the right of a shot, and the man's back is always framed to the left of a shot. This correlates to their left-right relationship in wider shots.

- Freddie