180 Degree Rule & Shot Reverse Shot

180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline referring to the onscreen spatial relationship involving two characters or a character and an object within a scene. Filmmakers use an imaginary line called the "Axis" to connect the two characters, this can be done by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be on the right frame of the second character, who is then always on left frame of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line.

In professional productions, the applied 180-degree rule is an essential element for a style of film editing called Continuity Editing. Although it is a very important rule some filmmakers will break it and cross the axis to cause a disorientation. Stanley Kubrick was known to do this for example in The Shining he broke the line of action in the bathroom scene.

Shot Reverse Shot

This shot can also be called the shot/counter shot, is 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 viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.