180 degree rule

The 180 degree rule in media

The 180 degree rule is when you are filming with 2 people in a shot and you are cutting back and forth with out making the audience get confused, you don't want to film 2 people from an other shoulder shot then cut to the other side cause you'd see the camera, you can't film pointing towards another camera cause they would see it so you film from the sides.

Diagram shows the areas you can film,. You can't pass the red line

The Diagram shows you the directions you can film and beyond the red line is where you can't. the reason being is you can't filming point back at the other camera cause you'll see the crew and it would be a continuity error and would make the film look less real.

Over Shoulder Shot looking at Actor 1

The shot shows an actor standing looking right towards another actor to the right of the shot, the camera is looking over the shoulder of the actor on the right.

Over Shoulder Shot looking at Actor 2 

The shot cuts to the other side looking over at the actor whose shoulder we were looking over but is now looking over Actor 1's shoulder.

Another Over Shoulder Shot but now from other side

In the video the camera moved over to the other, they did this cause they wanted to show that you can break the 180 degree rule without confusing or have an continuity errors. So it is possible to film past the red line but doesn't involve the cameras moving around to the opposite side in which they where previously on.