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The 180 Degree Rule (a moviemaking tip) After seeing several movies on sites like YOUTUBE from self-taught filmmakers, it's become apparent that some of the basics of filmmaking are missing. Here's one of several semi-instructional videos for beginning and amature filmmakers.
This one is about the 180 DEGREE RULE, something that hels with establishing a geography and spatial relations so that the viewer of your movie can get oriented.
DEFINITLEY AIMED AT BEGINNERS! My role(s) in this film: Director Writer Producer Editor Actor Composer FX Other Submitted by sonnyboo on June 21, 2007 - 10:47pm. |
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Rules are meant to be
Rules are meant to be broken...But sometimes they do exist because they work too.
I've seen videos from beginners and amatuers that don't adhere to the 180 degree rule and it truly is disorienting. You can have a character be on one side of the street, then there's a cut and they are on the wrong side of the street, and back again in another cut and it makes you wonder if any thought was ever put into spatial relations or even that the audience might not get your intent.
And again rules are not always the best way to go either. I think the key is MOTIVATION. Every camera move and every cut should be motivated by something. Everything is in service of the story. If there is a good reason, you can always break the rules. Especially if the audience buys your reason for it.
Sometimes you WANT to disorient the viewer, give them a sense of panic or being lost/confused, so screw the 180 degree rule in those cases. Evoking an emotional response via the editing & shooting is really what it's all about. But shooting things without using the rules because the rules are stupid... that's not really doing the story (or your movie) any favors per se.
The Spirit of the Law
Versus the Letter of the Law.
I agree with what you said sonnyboo: sometimes you WANT to disorient the viewer, and then breaking this rule would help! It all depends on what the objective is. If you want the viewer to keep their sense of where everybody is, then this rule is useful. If you want to freewheel with that sensation for purposes of the story, then you can experiment outside this rule.
Yup, I agree: following or breaking the rules should be done for a reason, and that reason should be understood or felt by the audience. Without a reason, following the rules just because... becomes mechanic, and breaking them just because.. becomes just sloppy. Good post.
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