In Thursdays class of week 3, we were tasked with using some very fancy cameras to film short sequences of footage, attempting to encapsulate one aspect of the frame we had been learning about. I decided to shoot some footage showing the 180 degree rule in action. The 180 degree rule is a method to frame action or conversation in a way that is not confusing or disorientating for viewers. The way that it works is a “line of action” is placed through the center of two edges of the scene being portrayed.

This crude diagram I made with WordArt explains it:

As you can see, once you have established the line of action, the camera **should** stay within a 180 degree angle of this line. This means that the 2 “edges” of the action (for example two humans having a conversation) never switch sides in the frame. The camera can move anywhere along a 180 degree ark, the two people will stay on the same sides of the frame. The camera can sit at a perpendicular angle (which will put each person in equal size ratio) or it can sit at an extremely narrow angle to the line of action (which would put one person in the foreground, taking up much of the frame), in both scenarios the two people stay on the same side at all times.

However, if the camera is placed on the other side of the line of action the two people will swap sides in the shot, which is both confusing and disorientating for audiences.

Here is my video, which showcases how the 180 degree rule works in practice.

The video showcases Alex (the other one) and Sandy (the other one) having a (mute) conversation. My video switches between 3 different angles, and demonstrates how as long as you stay within 180 degrees of the Line-of-action (in this case the bench) both participants will always stay on their respective side.