Terminology
 

What are dutch angles and when would you use them whatever they maybe?

What is the 90 degree line of action?

Thanks.

Dutch camera angles are those in which vertical and horizontal are tilted in relation to the main film frame (eg the ground is at 30/45 degrees instead of parallel with the edge of the frame), often to evoke a sense of disequilibrium, for example a character's lack of mental balance.

...and the 90 degree line is principally that you keep the cameras on one side of the action. In sports all the cameras are usually along one os the sides of the pitch so team a attacks from right to left. If you have a camera on the other side they would attack from left to right, making it very confusing for the viewer. This applies to all kind of shooting. Man walks out on the right side of the frame, he should enter on the left etc...

Interviews is no exception. The only important thing to remember is to decide where the line goes and stick to it.

Probably sounds a lot more complicated than it is....

90 degree angle is best to see it visually. Draw two characters
(top view) on a piece of paper. Now draw the line of sight between
those characters (straight line). Now imagine the camera being
on the left side of the line looking straight at the two characters.
If you were to move it to the opposite position on the other side
of the line than your characters would suddenly switch places
on screen. This is confusing for the viewer. Therefor once you
choose a side of the line stick to it. You can move your camera
on the whole 90 degrees without any problems....

Thanks guys you definitely know your stuff.

Rob,

Best job I've seen anyone do explaining that. It sounds so complex and difficult in so many explanations. Good Job!

Thanks Rob! I just opened my "film directing shot by shot" book
to check up on my story. The term used is indeed line of action
and it looks like I've described it pretty accurately. The book
also goes down into detail what happens to the Line of Action
if someone moves or you are shooting moving objects like cars
etc. It also goes into moving the Line of Action itself.

For anyone who has the book the Line of Action is being
described in part 2 (Elements of The Continuity Style), chapter
6 (Composing Shots: Spatial Connections) page 129 till 143.

Another recommendation is:

"The Five C's of Cinematography", it may be dated, but the information is current and applicable.

I'll post some mistakes where I crossed the line of action and the "characters" were transposed.

Cheers!