The 180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is a rule used in film that is showing where the camera can be placed within a shot, specifically within 180 degrees on an invisible line between the characters in the shot. The rule allows for the spacial relationship between the 2 characters in the shot to be consistent, the characters will remain in their respectful positions or perspectives. This avoids the audience getting confused as to what they're seeing on screen, and helps give them perspective on what is happening off screen. To put it in more simple terms, the two characters will only be shot from one side of theirs. This is agreeing with the 180 degree rule, however if in one shot they are shot from one side, then in the next shot their other side, this is breaking the 180 degree rule, also known as 'Breaking the line', as shown in the two images from The Shining below.


 


These 2 images are from the psychological horror classic The Shining. Director Stanley Kubrick has shot a scene of dialogue between the 2 characters. As we can see here, the camera swaps from the arcs in these back to back shots. However this is breaking the 180 degree rule, this is called 'Breaking the line'. The director may have used this to keep the audience jarred from the viewing of the film and try to break any sense of realism, especially in a film like this. This is effective and it does its job.