30-Degree Rule

Understanding the role of The 30-Degree Rule in Film Editing

Misha Tenenbaum avatar
Written by Misha Tenenbaum
Updated over a week ago
The 30-Degree Rule

The 30-DEGREE RULE states that if an editor cuts to the same character or object in another shot, the second shot must be positioned at least 30 degrees away from the first camera setup.

If the camera moves less than 30 degrees, the cut between shots can look like a JUMP CUT or a mistake.

A jump cut happens when two shots are cut together, but the camera position doesn’t change much but the subject moves in the second shot (jumping around the frame), giving the impression that time has moved forward. This type of cut can be very jarring to the audience, making them notice the technical side of filmmaking instead of being focused on the story.

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