Workshop 2

THE 180 DEGREE RULE

 In today's workshop I learnt about the 180 degree rule, which is one of the many rules in film making which you should not break. This technique is used to allow the audience to know what's happening in the scene and to let them know where everyone is standing in relation to each other. 

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen relationship between the two characters in the scene. By keeping the camera on one side of an imaginary line between two characters, the first character is always frame right of the second character.

This is important because it allows the audience to know who's talking, and when as the camera switches between the other the shoulder shots. it lets the audience get a sense of direction within the scene. 

For example, In this film scene taken from the 1980 film, 'The Shining' this scene uses a wide angle shot from both directions of the characters.  This is a 180 degree flip. 

As you can see in these two shots, the camera flips to the other side of the two characters convosation This 180 degree flip is very effective.