180 Degree Rule
The 180 degree rule is a filming technique whereby the camera stays behind a line of action (the axis) which is an invisible line drawn between the two actors. By staying on one side of this line, the camera work follows the eye lines of the actors when they are talking to each other. They are both positioned on the same side of the screen each time and their eyes appear to look across at each other.
Breaking this line can be confusing for the audience. However, if you show the camera swapping sides i.e. the camera is filmed passing behind an actor onto their opposite side on screen, then the message that the camera has changed sides is very obvious and the audience will continue to understand what is going on.
Video Tutorial
Here is an excellent video about the 180 degree rule. If you want to be challenged, listen further to using 3 people with this rule. It's more complicated but if done well, is a definite higher level accomplishment!
Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27KCpefUMxU
Breaking this line can be confusing for the audience. However, if you show the camera swapping sides i.e. the camera is filmed passing behind an actor onto their opposite side on screen, then the message that the camera has changed sides is very obvious and the audience will continue to understand what is going on.
Video Tutorial
Here is an excellent video about the 180 degree rule. If you want to be challenged, listen further to using 3 people with this rule. It's more complicated but if done well, is a definite higher level accomplishment!
Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27KCpefUMxU
Furthermore, you will see lots of examples on Google also with illustrations. Ensure this work is well done, as this will be going on to your website also. Check communication and spellings throughout and embed links to where you have borrowed pictures and information from.
Shot Reverse Shot
This technique is in the name! You shoot in a particular direction (at one character talking for example), you then reverse the shot so it is then facing the character being spoken to. You are effectively reversing the shot, to help indicate a conversation between two people or confirm a relationship between two things.
Here's an example from Spider-Man. The example can be seen when the main character is looking at the masks. The camera faces him, then reverses to show the audience what he is looking at. It reverses back to looking at him again.
Later in the scene the main character is facing a mirror from which his reflection is talking back to him in an evil way. The shot goes to the main character, then reverses to his talking reflection, then reverses back to the main character in the room again.
Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0xiCIMIwLY
Here's an example from Spider-Man. The example can be seen when the main character is looking at the masks. The camera faces him, then reverses to show the audience what he is looking at. It reverses back to looking at him again.
Later in the scene the main character is facing a mirror from which his reflection is talking back to him in an evil way. The shot goes to the main character, then reverses to his talking reflection, then reverses back to the main character in the room again.
Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0xiCIMIwLY
Challenge
The above work is ESSENTIAL for your coursework, however you may wish to try explaining a more challenging technique; the 180 degree rule with three people! The tutorial above covers this but you may need to investigate it further to fully understand the best approach.