The document discusses the 180-degree rule and lighting techniques for broadcast production. The 180-degree rule establishes that all camera shots during a scene should be filmed from the same side of an imaginary line of action between subjects, to avoid confusing viewers. Three-point lighting is also covered, which uses a key light, fill light, and back light to illuminate a subject. High-key and low-key lighting are styles that use three-point lighting to set different moods. Practicing lighting is important but can be time-consuming.

1. CHAPTERS 11 &
12: 180-DEGREE
RULE & LIGHTING
C O M M 1 1 9 : B R O A D C A S T P R O D U C T I O N

2. 180-DEGREE RULE
• “CROSSING THE LINE” is something you’ll hear in
Broadcast Production and it refers to camera
placement during shooting as well as the “180-
DEGREE RULE”
• When shooting, you want to always keep the
viewer in mind and what they’re seeing and how
they’re seeing it
• Viewers form “maps” in their minds of a scene
they’re watching, even of things off-screen, and
objects/people appearing where they’re not
expected will only confuse the viewer

3. 180-DEGREE RULE
• The best way to be mindful of not confusing your viewer
in regards to their “maps” is to imagine there are two
people in a scene facing each other; then draw an
imaginary line between the two of them – we’ll call that
line the “LINE OF ACTION”. This divides the 360-degree
circle into two 180-DEGREE halves.

4. 180-DEGREE RULE
• Now decide from what side you’re going to shoot the
scene and set up your first/establishing shot accordingly
(see below)

5. 180-DEGREE RULE
• All your other shots should be taken on the SAME SIDE as
your establishing shot and in the same 180-DEGREE half
of the circle

6. 180-DEGREE RULE
• Placing your camera into the other 180-DEGREE half
would result in shots that would confuse the viewer as
their “map” is now invalid

7. 180-DEGREE RULE
• Here’s a great video showing this rule in
action:

8. 180-DEGREE RULE
• One typical way to “break” the rule and film from the other
side is to use the camera physically moving to the other
side during the scene so the viewer can reorient
themselves to the action. This video breaks down the 180-
Degree Rule in greater detail, including ways to “break” it:

9. •Lighting is obviously a key
component of a video shoot but
not always under your control,
depending on the type of shoot
you’re doing. The lighting concepts
discussed here are most applicable
when shooting in a studio
environment with a simple
LIGHTING KIT and not on
location/outside and/or without a
LIGHTING

10. •Three-Point Lighting: the basis
for lighting design in many
broadcast productions with three
key components:
–KEY LIGHT
–FILL LIGHT
–BACK LIGHT
LIGHTING

11. –We’ll be using this still of Sean Connery as
James Bond to demonstrate THREE-POINT
LIGHTING concepts
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

12. KEY LIGHT =
•The brightest light source
•Placed to one side so that it
illuminates from an angle for
desired effect
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

13. KEY LIGHT =
•The brightest light source
•Placed to one side so that it
illuminates from an angle for
desired effect
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

14. FILL LIGHT =
•Used opposite/with KEY LIGHT to
reduce or eliminate the harsh
shadows created by the key light
•Less intense than the KEY LIGHT
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

15. FILL LIGHT =
•Used opposite/with KEY LIGHT to
reduce or eliminate the harsh
shadows created by the key light
•Less intense than the KEY LIGHT
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

16. BACK LIGHT =
•Originates from behind and either
above, below, or to the side of the
back of the main object you’re
lighting
•Can create a silhouette effect
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

17. BACK LIGHT =
•Originates from behind and usually
above the subject (sometimes
below)
•Can create a silhouette effect
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

18. THREE PONT LIGHTING:
THREE-POINT LIGHTING

19. THREE-POINT LIGHTING
• Here’s a useful video also detailing the
THREE-POINT LIGHTING concept

20. THREE-POINT LIGHTING
•Even if you’re not using a
lighting kit, you can still use
the same concepts with
available light. See pages
112 – 116 on your textbook
for examples.

21. LIGHTING USES
•Basic lighting can affect
three major aspects of
your shot
–HIGHLIGHT
–MOOD
–DEPTH

22. HIGHLIGHT LIGHTING
• Here are some examples of using various
lighting techniques to highlight a specific
part(s) of a shot as opposed to lighting the
whole shot

23. MOOD LIGHTING
•A mood or feeling of a shot is
often created by lighting – two
major types of lighting used to
do this that use the THREE-
POINT LIGHTING concepts
discussed earlier are:
–HIGH-KEY LIGHTING
–LOW-KEY LIGHTING

24. When the fill light and the back light are
nearly as bright as the key light
• Shadows are diminished and the effect is
of an evenly distributed light source in
the entire shot
• Often used to
create a happy
and upbeat mood
HIGH-KEY LIGHTING

25. • When the fill light and the back light are
much less intense than the key light;
some areas are brightly lit while some are
in deep shadow/blackness
• Often used to
create a somber
and downbeat
mood
LOW-KEY LIGHTING

26. DEPTH LIGHTING
• Good lighting can create a sense of depth in the room
by highlighting people/objects in both the background
and the foreground; this gives the shot less of a 2-
dimensional feel and makes it feel more 3-dimensional
and layered

27. •Getting good at lighting takes lots
of practice and can be very time
consuming so be sure you allow
yourself plenty of time when
lighting is a key part of your
production
•And remember that lights use
electricity, get very hot, and can
easily tip over so be sure to
consider that when putting
together a RISK ASSESSMENT for a
LIGHTING

28. 180-DEGREE RULE & LIGHTING QUIZ & BOARD
DISCUSSION
• Go to this week’s folder and take the180-
DEGREE RULE & LIGHTING QUIZ
• Go to the Group Discussion Board and
participate in this week’s discussion