RESEARCH : The 180° Rule

What is the 180° rule?
The 180° rule is a continuity technique; the rule cannot be broken because it makes the viewer confused. The rule states that both objects or characters in the seen must has the same left/ right relationship to each other.

How is it used?
There is an imaginary line of 180°, the camera can only film on one side of the line, and if you cross the line the rule is broken. This can lead the viewer to be confused about the scene. There is one exception to breaking the rule and that is to let the viewer see that you have crossed the line. As long as the viewer has seen that the camera has passed the line, it won’t lead to confusion.