The document discusses the 180-degree rule of filmmaking. This rule states that the camera must always remain on the same side of an imaginary line drawn between the subject and viewpoint in the establishing shot. Breaking this rule can confuse audiences as it disorients their understanding of the spatial relationships between characters and events. The only acceptable reason to break the rule is for a specific creative effect, and the camera movement across the line must be shown to reorient the audience.

2.  The rule states that the camera(s) should remain
the same side of an imaginary line
 The line is drawn perpendicular the camera’s
viewpoint in the establishing shot of the scene
 The rule enforces continuity of the film
 An example is that in a car chase scene, if the
car is travelling from right to left, the next shot
must also be shot from the same side, meaning
the car has to enter the frame right to left again
 The same applies for football matches and other
sport

3.  The rule should never be broken
 Only defence for breaking the rule is ‘for effect’
 Breaking the rule will confuse the
audience, especially in scenes of
chase, conversation or sport
 Camera must always be on one side of the line
 This is an example of
the rule being
obeyed:

4.  Crossing
the line when filming over the
shoulder shots shifts the person’s eye
line, meaning that the actors’ eye lines do
not match
-Example from my preliminary task

6.  Confusion of audience
 Audience lose focus
 Become disorientated
 Miss vital parts of the film

7.  The only way to cross the line without
disorientating the audience is to show the
camera movement
 You cannot cut across the line or the viewer
will not be orientated
 Once the line has been crossed, and
movement shown, you have to stay on that
side of the line, unless you show the
movement back over it.

8.  The clip below shows a violation of the rule
used for effect
 The effect created is that of a
shot/reverse/shot, but really, the subject is
just one character