Film Making Tips 101 The “Line”

You can tell when someone makes a film without thinking it through. It becomes even more obvious when people completely disregard where things should be placed, where things are in relation to them and also, they forget about the “line.” The line, also known as the “axis of action” or just “the axis.”

The line (axis/axis of action) is where the camera faces. Regard the camera as the center point and imagine everything before it is the world we see. If we go to the opposite side of the camera, the line, we’re crossing the line. Meaning everything must be reversed, we’ve now changed where we’re positioned and the background behind the subject, and so the subjects must be automatically reversed. Failing to do so will disorientate our audience and just not make sense.

But in addition to that, we have to be very weary of doing such a thing as crossing the line. Even if done properly, crossing the line can make the viewer confused and uneasy. It’s best to take a look through the camera and feel out how it would work before doing so rather than just going ahead and wasting time. Reversing the direction the subject behaves in can have quite a series of negative consequences.

Crossing the line isn’t necessarily all bad though; there are times when it may make sense to. If there are a group of people talking in a room, a well set up dolly shot where you want everything to be seen. Whatever the case, crossing the line can be useful as long as when you change the camera positioning, the subject is in the appropriate place/side of the screen to where the camera has moved.

Another exception with crossing the line is stopping on it. If you stop on the line, and have another shot taking into account where everything lies, crossing the line isn’t a problem. It can work well and also help round your world more. These conditions should all be considered though.

A shot which can help bridge crossing the line is that of a P.O.V. (point of view). Taking one side and throwing in a P.O.V., then moving alongside the subject on the other side closer up can often work well.

Crossing the line is best done when you have a point of reference. An object or background that the audience can understand and equate with where your subjects are at each point. You can also use vehicles, roads and things of that nature in order to help satisfy a sense of normality with your viewer.