The line of action between two characters that should not be broken is described by which rule?

• A. Rule of thirds
• B. Eyeline match
• C. 180 rule
• D. Coverage

Answer: (C)

The line of action between two characters that should not be broken is described by the 180-degree rule. This rule keeps the camera on one side of an imaginary axis that runs between or through the characters, preserving the left-right relationships and the direction of their gaze from shot to shot. When you stay on the same side, character A remains looking toward character B and the audience understands their spatial relationship without confusion. If you cross that axis, the characters can suddenly appear to switch places, and their directions flip, which disrupts continuity and makes the scene feel disorienting.

Think of why this matters in practice: it helps viewers follow who is talking to whom and where each person is in the space, which is essential for clear dialogue scenes. Other concepts, like the rule of thirds, focus on how the frame is composed aesthetically; eyeline match deals with aligning a character’s gaze across cuts; and coverage is about shooting enough angles to cover the scene—none of these specifically govern the persistent on-screen axis between two people like the 180-degree rule does.