The EssentialShowbiz Dictionary™

of Entertainment Industry Terms

Eye Line

1 minute read | Last updated: 7 months ago

What does Eye Line mean?

Eye Line refers to the direction in which an actor is looking during a shot, which helps establish spatial relationships between characters or objects in a scene. Maintaining a consistent eye line is crucial for ensuring continuity and realism, as it allows the audience to understand where characters are positioned in relation to each other. When actors’ eye lines don’t match, it can create confusion or break the illusion of a coherent scene. Related terms include Continuity, which refers to the consistency of visual details, and Crossing the Line, which disrupts spatial orientation.

Example:The director reminded the actor to adjust their eye line so it matched the position of the other character during the dialogue scene.
Example: Maintaining a proper eye line helps the audience understand where characters are in relation to each other, even when they aren’t shown in the same shot.

Did You Know?
In visual effects scenes, actors often have to look at imaginary objects or characters, requiring precise eye line coordination for the final effect!

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