180 Degree Rule

The 180-degree rule is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene. An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called crossing the line or jumping the line. 

Shot Sizes

Extreme Long Shot (XLS) :

• 
  Traditionally used in exterior
• shooting.
• Captures a large field of view.
• Showing a large amount of
• environment within film space.
• Shows where. often used as an
• establishing shot;
• Shows when - day, night, winter, summer, past, present

Very Long Shot (VLS):
 

• Similar to XLS but can also be used
• in interior when enough width and
• height.
• Object of interest more visible.
• - Establishing shot; character in an
• environment.
• Shows where, when and a bit more
• of who.

Long Shot (LS):

•  Full body is in shot, can see bottom of feet and top of head in frame.

•  Interior or exterior shooting.

• Object of interest takes attention away from the surroundings, but still visible.

• Shows where, when and who - gender, clothing, movements and facial expressions visible.

Medium Long Shot (MLS):

• Framing subject from the knee.
• Object of interest is prominent, details in clothing, gender, facial expressions, props and accessories.
• Showing more of who than where and when. But is still visible.






Medium Shot (MS):

• Framing subject from the waist.
• Object of interest is most prominent and see more detail - eyes and the direction they look, clothing, hair, facial expressions, body movements
• Restricts freedom of gesture. Don’t break frame - body part touch or go out of frame.






Medium Close-Up (MCU):


• Referred to as ‘two button’ as it frames subject from chest.
• Commonly used when character is speaking, listening, or performing an action that doesn’t require much body or head movement.
• Audience watching face, surroundings hold little importance.

Close-Up (CU):

•  Referred to as ‘head-shot’, as the framing may cut off at top of hair and at bottom of chin.
• More intimate full face shot than
• MCU - showing subtle emotions
• across eyes, mouth and facial muscles.
•  Audience totally focused on face.

Big Close-Up (BCU):

• Face or object of interest occupies whole of frame

• Such an intimate shot puts the audience directly in the face of the subject - every detail of the face is highly visible.

• Can show how characters feels, but be subtle and restrict movement.

Extreme-Close Up (ECU):

• Purely a detail shot - framing just one aspect - such as eye, mouth, ear, hand
•  No point of reference to surrounding environment, audience has no context in which to place this body part.
• Good shot to draw attention and show detail.