Filming Techniques

Today we learnt about two of the different techniques you can use when filming a scene.

• The 180 Degree Rule
• The Rule of Thirds

These two rules are very effective for producing a creative and logical scene. 

The 180 Degree Rule

When filmmaking, if you want your shots to appear realistic and smooth with a consistent line of action, the filmmaker must follow the 180-degree rule.  

The 180-degree rule is an imaginary line of action drawn across the frame or screen. It is the location where not only action or the direction a subject is moving, but it is also the sightlines, or the character’s direction of vision. Once shooting has begun, the camera operator needs to stay on one side of the line in which they initially started shooting that particular action.

If two actors are talking to each other then draw a line to connect the two places where they are standing and extend the line in each direction to the edges of the set. Even if there are many actors in the scene you can still draw a line connecting the two opposing sides of the action.

Consider two characters speaking to one another while facing each other. Their direction of vision is the sightline. For instance, Character A is on the left side of the frame speaking to Character B on the right side of the frame. Character A and Character B, because of the sightline, have created an imaginary 180-degree line, straight through them. Therefore, the camera operator is on Character A’s right side and Character B’s left side. To create a logical and believable plan of action, the camera operator must stay anywhere on this side. Suppose the camera operator did not consider the 180-degree rule, and all of a sudden, Character A is on the right side of the frame. This particular shot will give viewers the impression that Character A is talking to themself. The result is not only distracting but it can become confusing to your viewers.

The Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a concept in video and film production in which the frame is divided into nine imaginary sections. This creates reference points which act as guides for framing the image. 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 centre. 

The rule of thirds creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centring the subject would. When using the rule of thirds your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.  People’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot – using the rule of thirds works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it. When filming people, it is common to line the body up with a vertical line.