Today we had our second virtual workshop with Matt, he taught us about the 180 degree rule. This rule is also called 'Crossing the line'. It is a technique to help the audience know where everybody is and who is who. It is when an imaginary line is drawn between two subjects and then the camera can be places anywhere as long as it stays one side of that line. If you were to cross that line it would make the shot confusing and the audience may not know where the characters are, what they are looking at/talking to and who is who.
This rule means that, if there are two people talking to each other, one is always shown on the right, and one always on the left.
This is an example of what happens when the line is crossed, as you can see cams A,B and C all work well as they show the two people as staying in the same place facing the same way, and the cams do not cross the line. However cam D is very confusing as it crosses the line, therefore disorientating the audience as we are not sure where the character actually is.
These are my examples of how to use the 180 degrees rule correctly, with a wide shot, over the shoulder, and then a close up.
Wide shot
I have put the pen where the 180 degree line would be drawn
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