Transitions: Breaking the 180 degree Rule
We intentionally break the 180 degree rule to make it seem as though Sam and Phil are being watched. In the show the FBI uses them and doesn't care for they own welfare (there is always this greater power keeping track of them). Unlike the original direction of Jeff, I wanted Sam and Phil to have shown visibly through camera movement and breaking this filming rule that they are being watched.
Ever since learning about this rule in Simons workshop in my first year on Television Production, I have always wanted an excuse to break the rule and this unit has given me that exact opportunity. In previous work I've made, I had no reason to break the rule, and it isn't something typically done in documentary either.
(See Workshop: Story Telling Unit-Camera Workshop 3: 180 degree rule)
Research
Before testing this rule in our own production, I needed to see how other directors had done it and wether or not it is effective. If ineffective, it could ruin the entire project and look completely out of place. An occasion where the rule was broken which particularly took my attention was the bathroom scene in 'The Shining'.
This actually inspired Batman The Dark Night Rises by Christopher Nolan. Nolan crosses the line in the interrogation scene. In order to see how I could do the same in my interrogation scene, but with different intentions it was a good idea to use this as a point of inspiration.
The idea in Dark Knight is to have the main protagonist (Batman) and the main antagonist (Joker) facing each other alone. For the first time we see the scene build up as to how these two complete opposite characters who are metaphorically tied to each other.
Along side this the battle of position of authority between the two characters changes in the scene. Crossing the line highlights this. The scene opens with Batman being the superior of the two. He is stood up and creeps from behind his as 'the interrogator'. But the Joker turns the conversation around and suddenly the Batman loses his position of power and ends up looking more vulnerable of the two.
I may be looking into this too much but The Joker says towards the end of the scene:"The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. And tonight you're gonna break your one rule". This could reference Nolan breaking one of the biggest rules in film making.
Outcome
Ever since learning about this rule in Simons workshop in my first year on Television Production, I have always wanted an excuse to break the rule and this unit has given me that exact opportunity. In previous work I've made, I had no reason to break the rule, and it isn't something typically done in documentary either.
(See Workshop: Story Telling Unit-Camera Workshop 3: 180 degree rule)
Research
Before testing this rule in our own production, I needed to see how other directors had done it and wether or not it is effective. If ineffective, it could ruin the entire project and look completely out of place. An occasion where the rule was broken which particularly took my attention was the bathroom scene in 'The Shining'.
This actually inspired Batman The Dark Night Rises by Christopher Nolan. Nolan crosses the line in the interrogation scene. In order to see how I could do the same in my interrogation scene, but with different intentions it was a good idea to use this as a point of inspiration.
The idea in Dark Knight is to have the main protagonist (Batman) and the main antagonist (Joker) facing each other alone. For the first time we see the scene build up as to how these two complete opposite characters who are metaphorically tied to each other.
Breaking 180 Degree Rule Example
Every time the rule is broken, the camera seems to move in a slow and uncomfortable way revealing the opposite character from behind the character closest to the lens. This is symbolic of the fact that the audience might be looking at mirror images, which is wha I believe to being Nolans intentions.
Along side this the battle of position of authority between the two characters changes in the scene. Crossing the line highlights this. The scene opens with Batman being the superior of the two. He is stood up and creeps from behind his as 'the interrogator'. But the Joker turns the conversation around and suddenly the Batman loses his position of power and ends up looking more vulnerable of the two.
I may be looking into this too much but The Joker says towards the end of the scene:"The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. And tonight you're gonna break your one rule". This could reference Nolan breaking one of the biggest rules in film making.
Outcome
Breaking the 180 degree rule is also confusing and can make an audience feel uncomfortable and their brains don't follow it as easily as there is this sense that something is odd. This 'something odd' is how Sam and Phil feel, especially Sam who feels the most uncomfortable in this whole situation of being the wrong man
EG.
EG.
Image at the top Phil is on the right. Image below he is on the left.
Whilst this scene is an interrogation scene with there being only one position of power (Stevens and his henchmen) I still wanted to break the rule to mark the fact that the tow are being watched and is something also done in the hotel scene.
In the hotel scene I uses a two shot wide; my reasoning behind this is because it is a very confrontational shot. I was inspired by the masterclass of 'Ron Howard Teaches Directing', which discussed the intentions behind the confrontational shots. As you can see below the 180 degree rule is broken intentionally. It gives the feeling that they are being watched, which is accompanied by the mirror shots.
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