Shots and Rule

What is a shot/reverse shot?

A film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the audience assumes that they are looking at each other. It is similar to an over-the-shoulder shot but with all the characters in the conversation.It is an example of an eyeline match, which is a form of continuity editing.

An example of shot/reverse shot:
"Sin City."

As the two characters in the scene converse, whenever one of them character speaks, the camera shows their face through an over the shoulder shot and as their dialogue continues and as they respond to each other the camera switches between the two characters and because they are shown facing opposite directions, the audience can deconstruct that they are looking at each other, therefore conversing with each other.

What is the 180^o rule?

A rule that states that the two characters in the same scene should always have the same ‘left to right’ relationship with each other. The camera can only break this rule if it ‘crosses the line.’ The new shot, now taken from the opposite side is called a reverse angle shot.

The image shows the axis between two characters and the 180° arc where the cameras may be positioned (green). When the camera cuts from the green arc to the red arc, the characters switch places on the screen.

An example of the 180 degree rule:

When James Bond's car leaves the right side of the frame in one shot, it re-enters from the left side of the frame in the next shot.

We also had a demonstration shown to us in class by Scott ,Billy, Bobby and Hope on how the 180 degree shot works in practice. The sticky notes on the floor represent the line that should not be crossed.

In professional productions, the 180 degree rule is a vital aspect of continuity editing; however the rule is not always obeyed. Sometimes the director, will purposely break the line of action, in order to create disorientation.





The director (Stanley Kubrick) of the psychological horror film (“The Shining”) deliberately broke the 180 degree rule in the ‘bathroom scene’ of the film.