Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
180-Degree Rule
Steve Gordon, professional storyboard artist for Disney and DreamWorks, said, “I've seen
some student storyboards and some test storyboards from non-students. What seems to be
most lacking is the understanding of basic cinematography, screen direction, and why a
scene should cut. Don't get me wrong, I also see some of these things in professional boards
as well. The most important thing to learn is the 180-degree rule and how to work around
it.”
A common “slip-up” in storyboarding and fi lm planning is continuity of movement or screen
direction. If a train is moving from left to right on the screen, that train needs to continue
moving left to right and not switch direction. If one were to do a cut where the camera
appeared to have moved to the other side and the train was now moving from right to left,
this could be disorienting for the audience. The audience may feel that they are now looking
at a different train or perhaps this is now another time and place. This kind of cut is said
to be breaking the 180-degree rule. The 180-degree rule is a guide to maintain a consistent
positioning within the two-dimensional frame of the movie.
If two characters, say an armadillo and a frog, are playing “tug-o-war,” a frog may be seen
on the right facing left pulling on the rope. An armadillo may be seen on the left facing
right pulling on the rope. The rope represents the 180-degree line. If the camera stays on
the same side of that line, the frog will always be on the right and the armadillo will always
be on the left even if the camera is shooting down the rope from one end of the action. If
the camera crosses the 180-degree line and starts fi lming from the other side it will reverse
the position of the frog and armadillo. The armadillo will then be on the right and the frog
will be on the left. Again, this kind of reversal can confuse the audience. So the camera
should not cross the 180-degree line or, to put it another way, you should avoid reversing
the position or direction of your characters.
