180o Rule The 180 degree rule is a cinematography technique; it uses a guideline for the spatial relationship between two characters within a scene. There is an axis that connects the two characters in the scene; this is done by maintaining the camera on one of the sides of the 180 degree axis in all the shots in the scene. It is paramount that the first character that is in the shot is always on the right of the second character, the second character is always frame left. The 180 degree rule has the ability to show unseen movement that is happening around the characters.

This is an example of the 180 degree rule it is taken from the 1980 film The Shining. This shows a wide shot from both directions of the characters , this is a 180 degree flip.

The 1972 film The Getaway uses the 180 degree rule as you can see in the shots. The man is on the left for most of the clip of the scene there are various over the shoulder shots with the man on the right. There is then crossing the axis as the woman is on the right instead.