The 180 degree rule

180 degree rule:

When filming and cutting a conversation it is important not to break the 180 degree rule. I have created an image to explain this. There are two people being filmed having a conversation. The 180 degree rule is an imaginary line called the axis which connects the characters and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line. If the imaginary line is crossed then the viewer would be disorientated as objects would appear on the wrong side.