Film Production: The 180 Degree Rule

In Film Production the 180 degree rule refers to the film editing theory that your actors should have the same right – left relationship with each other. The 180 rule is a standard convention that just about every professional feature movie obeys.

Film Production: The 180 Degree Rule

For example, if we are shooting a scene where you are on the right and Blue Skelton is one the left. When you are talking the camera will show you facing right when you are speaking while Blue Skelton would be seen facing left when he is speaking. If the camera changes and crosses the middle axis separating us the new shot would be called the reverse angle. Here is a great video illustrating this rule if you are tired of hearing me talk. Okay that was a silly question watch the video and then please come back and listen to me talk.

This is true even if a character is talking to another character that is off screen.

The rule does not just apply to conversation it also applies to anything that goes of screen. If an object goes off screen to the right then according to the 180 degree rule, the object should then reenter from the left.

The 180 degree rule is strictly obeyed in Western Cinema but has often been disobeyed in Asian Cinema, most notably by Asian Film Maker, Yasujiro Ozu. That’s not to say that some very radical western cinema directors haven’t disobeyed the rule but most obey it.

The 180 degree rule is an excellent guide to follow in your film editing process but don’t be afraid to break the rules and challenge the conventions. Stanley Kubrick did and look where that got him. My fiction teacher told me that, “In film and fiction, all rules were meant to be broken. Just make sure you understand the rule that you are trying to break.” The 180 rule is typically used for the express purpose of disorienting the viewer.

For example I often let objects go off screen from the right and come back from the right. I call it a boomerang effect. However, I do agree with the conventions that it is tough to accomplish. You have to use other editing devices that I will discuss later in order to keep the audience from becoming completely disoriented.

There is one area where I feel that the 180 rule would be very difficult to break and that is in a War Film that has distinct fronts. Think about the movie Troy. In war movies it is very helpful to have one side of the conflict enter the screen from the right (or vice versa) with the antagonist’s entering from the left. You can still use front and reverse angle shots to break up the lateral orientation of the film.

Related Film Production Posts:

180 Instructional Video

Getting Caught in the Crossfire: The Danger of Violating This Rule

Asian Film Book

My Favorite Movies