What does the 180° rule state about two characters in a scene?

• A. It states that two characters should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another.
• B. It states that lighting should be kept at a 180-degree angle.
• C. It states that camera must always move in 180 degrees around subject.
• D. It states that two characters must be on opposite sides of the frame at all times.

Answer: (A)

The main idea behind this rule is keeping spatial orientation consistent between two characters. It says you should stay on one side of an imaginary line that runs between them, so their left/right relationship stays the same from shot to shot. This preserves clear direction: viewers learn who is looking at whom and how they’re positioned relative to each other. If you cross that line, the characters can seem to switch places or faces, which can confuse the audience and break the sense of space in the scene. So the best answer is that two characters should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another.