I humbly submit this Film Making 101 lesson to the directors of DEADGIRL, given the fact that between the two of them, they still weren't able to figure it out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180_degree_rule
ekm
Writer/Director -- ROULETTE
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294794/combined
It's a "rule" in general, but all rules can be broken in certain situations. For a certain effect
shareWhy do I always read that comment on movie forums, I don't get why people feel the need to point out the fact they know about this rule. I am sure a lot of movies have scenes filmed in a way that breaks this rule, not all directors went to film school.
"I don't shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you I throw up!"
Blindly defending an inability to grasp the fundamentals of narrative cinema as "style" is laughable. It's like defending someone who crashes their car into a tree by saying they were just trying to find an alternate route home.
The very fact that you see this argument posted on numerous message boards in response to DEAD GIRL speaks volumes.
ekm
Writer/Director -- ROULETTE
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294794/combined
To be fair, the 180 Degree Rule is broken in some cases to deliberately disorient the viewer like in The Shining. Since the entire movie basically tries to disturb the viewer, it's not a stretch to assume the camera work might endeavor to do the same. Also, I have also seen some advance the theory that the two main characters are the same person.
shareActually, it's not "blind", the fact is this rule gets broken all the time by all sorts of filmmakers. Not noticing that is what's "blind".
share[deleted]
If the shot you're talking about is the one I think it was, that was intended to convey movement with characters walking in a circle, so it's not really a violation of the 180 rule. It does not lead to spatial confusion so much since it's meant to be disorienting as the characters walk around in circles.
shareWhoever invented this rule is a pompous jerkoff. Non-issue. And you are a tool for following them.
share^^^What he said^^^
Every film maker should follow EVERY (so called) rule. That way EVERY movie will be perfect and the same!!
I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!
I agree. I go to film school and when we learned about the 180 degree rule, I thought it was the most pompous *beep* I've heard in my life. Of course, you don't want to confuse the viewer unless it's intentional, but making it a standard that every film should follow the rule is just ridiculous.
Blindly defending an inability to grasp the fundamentals of narrative cinema as "style" is laughable. It's like defending someone who crashes their car into a tree by saying they were just trying to find an alternate route home.
The very fact that you see this argument posted on numerous message boards in response to DEAD GIRL speaks volumes.
Tell this to your film professor, pal. I'm sure they'll have a good belly laugh.
The 180-degree rule isn't "pompous" -- it's about ESTABLISHING EYELINES AND TEMPORAL SPACE. Sort of like driving on the correct side of the road to prevent mass chaos.
But seriously, I'd love to see some of your student projects. Keep me informed, please!
ekm
Writer/Director -- ROULETTE
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294794/combined
They're in a basement with a chic tied up and you're concerned about some rule? You'll probably never make it as a serious film maker. You could probably find work teaching about it though.
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Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.
Screw it, if I get in trouble so be it. EKM, you come off like a know nothing know it all. You have this pompous arrogance to you, and that's great, you've done sh***y movies just like others have. Did you actually go to film school and waste your money instead of going out and learning the craft? How much money did you spend? Really, I can't imagine that you made it back, but if you did, that's cool. You still come off like an a**hole. Maybe you can direct better than me, I don't know, I'm not here to get in a pissing contest with you. You just come off like a complete jerk off quite frankly. I hope that maybe you are a decent dude, but you sound pretty ridiculous on here. Shove the 180 rule up your candy a** ya schmuck.
share100% agree.
The OP actually used the phrase "I humbly submit" then went on to show what a complete jerk he is.
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Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.
Awwww. You hurt my feelings.
ekm
Writer/Director -- ROULETTE
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1294794/combined
For someone responsible for such an unwatchable abomination that had two dozen 10/10 shill reviews by first time writers, you especially shouldn't be preaching rules to anyone. Save the "I can't help it if my crew,friends and family write 10 star reviews spiel" I've heard it before.
shareThe 180 degree rule is just one of a number of techniques that make up what's called the "American Style" of filmmaking. These "rules" are the result of trial and error, but their goal is to foreground the story and "hide" the artistic techniques used to present it. The idea is to prevent the viewer from noticing how the camera (direction, cinematography, lighting, etc.) is creating the illusion of reality.
In the 50s and 60s, French and other directors started deliberately breaking all these rules and calling attention to the filmmakers' craft rather than the story. This meta-cinematic approach perhaps reached its zenith in the late 1980s with MTV-style music videos, in which the director and his camera are almost always the stars of the show. Frankly, when I think of the people who produce music and concert videos, I recall the Roman emperor Caligula's line -- "would that they had one neck . . ."
The American Style seems simple, but I would argue that it's actually very difficult to do well.