Rules of filming

The 180 rule:
180 degree rule is used to establish and maintain direction between actors or actions with in a scene. without doing that it will be difficult for the audience to follow the scene.
Maintaining the line of action:

• Using an imaginary line drawn between the subject or person they are interacting with.
• Using an imaginary line drawn along a path that subject is moving on.

For example two actors interacting, the line is drawn between actors.

Rule states that once you have placed the camera on one side of the 180 degree line, then you shot keep all shots within the 180 degree arc all on the same side, maintaining screen direction.

Establishing shot-180 degree rule:

• To show the location of the scene
• Determines the screen direction of actor(s)

Allows the actors to have there sight lines to be the same. Breaking the 180 degree rule will cause the sight direction to not be the same and meet up. However the angle can be changed on the same line.

Breaking the 180 degree rule:

• For dramatic purposes, if the story supports it.
• Or to create a lost feeling within the actor, which the audience can follow along with.

Shifting action lines:
- Neutral shots-180 degree rule: Place the camera on the action line-allowing you to cut to a shot on the other side of the line.
- Cutaway shot-180 degree rule: surrounding/landscape shot, followed by a shot on the opposite side of the action line.



Shot reverse shot:
One character is looking at another character, so both looking at each other. Characters are shown facing the opposite direction, to make the audience think they are looking at each other. This shot is usually shot behind the characters shoulder, so creating a over the shoulder shot.

The 180 degree rule links with this type of shot, because allow the audience not to change the sense of location of the characters shots.





The 30 degree rule:
Rule states if going to cut to between two angles of the same subject - then camera needs to move at least 30 degrees.

If this doesn't occur, then it can create a jump cut shot, which the lead the audience to focus on the editing technique than on the shot. So this will occur when jumping from frame to frame.




Match on action:

MATCH ON ACTION EXAMPLE

Method of cutting action from shot to shot whilst making sure that the action of the character/object matches across the edit. 

This creates a sense of continuity, so the action carrying through a 'visual bridge', which then draws viewers attention away from the slight cutting. This shot tries to portrays the same action rather than matching two separate things.



Rules of thirds:

Dividing the shot/scene into 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines equally, 2 central points which meet will be the right composition of the shot. The empty space in front of characters or object need be positioned wither right or left of the image, so the meeting points of the ruling of the 4 lines will allow a better scenery and shot.Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up (or across) the frame, rather than in the center.In most "people shots", the main line of interest is the line going through the eyes. In this shot, the eyes are placed approximately 1/3 of the way down the frame.