MovieChat Forums > In Treatment (2008) Discussion > 180 degree rule

180 degree rule

posted 14 years ago by claydunker
6 replies | jump to latest

Ok, so first of all - I'm only halfway through Season 2...so no spoilers please.

I have become quite addicted to this show and one of the things I love about it is how well directed it is. But here's the thing: it seems like every episode there is a long pan shot that goes behind a character's head (often it is Paul's) and crosses the 180 degree line so all the shot/reverse shots have been...well, reversed. For the life of me, I can't come up with a good reason for why. I know it's not arbitrary, but I Just haven't caught on.

I thought for a while it might happen at the exact midpoint of the episode, but that doesn't hold true. I thought for a few episodes (definitely with the Laura episodes) that it the 180 degree line was broken when there was a role reversal in the session, but that doesn't hold up either.

Any thoughts about this? It really has been bugging me for quite a while now.

[–] whereismikeyfl 13 years ago

Perhaps it is because most episodes consist of only two characters talking, it was thought necessary to do something to vary the visuals.

What you are talking about though does not break the 180-degree rule. The pan establishes a new axis, so that it still does not have the disorientation that a real break of 180 has (when a filmmaker goes along with that piece of grammar).

[–] Erumpent 12 years ago

Totally agree with whereismikeyfl.

[–] crunkrocka 12 years ago

I haven't paid close attention to the 180 rule while watching, but I know that in general, the rule can be broken if the director wants to disorient the audience. That could be possible here. Perhaps they want to make a subtle point and throw the audience off a bit.

I'll have to take a closer look and see where and when they do it.

Okay. Now I'm going to do his teeth and cut off his fingers. You might want to leave room.

[–] nosferatu-4 12 years ago

Aside from the circular pan, there are indeed cuts that break the 180 rule. I haven't given any thought to the role reversal theory - that's interesting! Can anyone recall specific episode numbers that feature them?

[–] OrchidThievery 13 years ago

I noticed that as well. Yet I don't think it's breaking the rule at all, and it is definitely used as a "breakthrough" directing maneouver through the whole series.

Good to know I wasn't the only one noticing something weird about those shots.

Cheers.

[–] mpop314 11 years ago

I find it usually occurs when the patient says something that gives Paul an 'ah ha' moment and he understand what direction to take the conversation in