Eyeline Match Explained – How is Eyeline Match Used in Film?

One of the many different terms that you will hear used in the world of movie editing is “eyeline match” but what does this actually mean? 

In this guide, we provide an eyeline match cut definition as well as explaining some of the different ways in which this technique can actually be used to convey a certain message within a film. 

Like a lot of forms of continuity editing, the eyeline match shot in film is the sort of thing that audiences become conditioned to. That means that while watching, we may not particularly notice what is happening, but editors and all of the other people involved in making a film will have thought about the way every shot works.

Let’s dive into our eyeline match definition and the way in which this technique is used in pretty much every film, but first, an explanation of what is meant by “eyeline” in film.

Eyeline in Film

Eyelines in film refers to where a character is looking. When we see another human and the way their eyes are facing, our brain may process this information and get a perception of what they are seeing. This is very important for film.

 

Imagine, for instance, that two characters in a movie are sat across from each other having a conversation. Matching eyelines between those two characters could be absolutely crucial to the viewer experience. If the characters are sitting directly opposite one another, but the eyelines are both looking to camera left, it can ruin the illusion of talking to one another. 

 

Eyeline match is about more than just characters looking at each other, as we explore below.

Eyeline Match Definition – Film Technique

Eyeline match is a form of continuity editing, which means it is a way to make the action appear as one seamless scene, without breaking the illusion while we use different camera angles and cut shots. 

 

The eyeline match is when the direction a character is looking in relates to the rest of the action, normally shown in the rest of the shot.

 

While you might think that eyeline match in film is all about two characters locking eyelines, it is about much more than this. 

 

One of the best ways to understand our eyeline match definition is to think of an example. Imagine that a character is walking through a field. The camera then shows them look back over their shoulder as they hear a noise. The next shot is of an animal approaching from the other side of the field. We know from the eyeline of the character that this is what they are seeing. 

 

In the first shot, we see the eyes and the way they are looking, and in the next shot we see exactly what the character is seeing.

 

In the simplest possible terms, the technique involves a character looking outside of a frame, and then the next shot showing us what they are looking at. 

 

Eyeline match can be used to show us the characters’ gaze and who they are looking at in a particular scene. For instance, if people are sitting around a table, and you see that one characters’ eyes have locked onto somebody else, the next shot may show another character staring back. This is a way that eyeline match can be used to show interactions between different characters and keep these characters locked onto one another while they are having an interaction.

 

Now that you understand how matching eyelines works and is so important to movies, you will probably start to notice more and more the way that the shots are used.

How Eyeline Match Film Shots Are Made

So, how is an eyeline match shot actually created? Everything you see in front of you needs a lot of thought put into it, and this is true for all film productions. An eyeline match technique is not the most complicated thing for a filmmaker to put into practice, but it does require both thought, and the skills of the production team to put into practice effectively. 

 

Eyeline match may need to be considered as early as the pre-production stages, such as storyboarding. It is possible that in the storyboards for a film, the direction in which a character is looking has already been thoroughly planned out.

 

The crew need to know the type of footage that they need to get and the actors need to know where to look. A lot of the time, actors are not actually looking at each other while they are shooting. A lot of the time, the director and camera crew will put an X mark on a surface that the actor may be looking at while their dialog is shot.

 

This is further proof of how important continuity editing is. For one continuous scene it is possible that you need to shoot the scene many different times. This means that the editors will be working with multiple recordings and multiple shots from different angles, as well as different performances from the actors. 

 

Continuity editing is the way that this is all tied together perfectly, and eyeline match is so important. If the editing team gets it wrong, there is a chance that they are going to ruin the illusion that comes from eyeline matching.

Eyeline Match Uses

So, as we’ve established in our eyeline match film definition. The technique can actually be used in a few different ways, which means that there are interesting options for the director of a video project, as well as for the editors when it comes to post-production. 

 

Some examples of uses of eyeline match are explained below:

 

Showing the audience what a character is seeing. This is arguably the most common use of eyeline match in film. Where their eyeline is looking is a hint, but it is usually the next shot that shows us all of the details regarding what the character has seen. There have been some amazing examples of this being used in films to show the unique perspective of a character, or even things that one character has seen but another character has not.

Eyeline match can create a connection between different characters. For instance, in a crowd shot, you might be able to tell from eyeline match that two different characters are looking at one another. Clever editing combined with actors and their eyelines can portray this message without any dialog being required.

 

Eyeline match is a way to create tension in a film, too. There is a way that the director can “withhold” the payoff of this. For example, if there are a lot of shots of a character’s eyeline as they are staring at something, and emotion is portrayed in their face, it can leave the audience wondering what the character is actually seeing. This can build up the tension before the reveal of a villain or character in a horror film, for instance.

The technique can also be used to progress the story and the location in which it is set. For example, if a character is shown to be looking out of the window, and suddenly there is action within the setting outside, where they were looking, we know that the film is making way for a brand new setting.

Ultimately, eyeline match is a tool for filmmakers and this means that directors tend to all bring their own unique take when they are making movies. Some prefer to break some of the rolls and put their own creative slant on the way eyeline match techniques are traditionally used. 

The 180-Degree Rule in Film

As part of continuity editing and eyeline match, there is something used within many films called the “180-degree rule”. This has been used in films for many decades.

This applies in any scene where there are two or more characters having a conversation, and helps the audience to follow what is happening. Directors and cameramen will create an axis between the characters, this is an imaginary, figurative line that shows the points of view of the characters. 

This line helps the directors to show the left and right sides of the scene clearly and also show where the characters are looking at all time. By creating this virtual line and 180-degree setting, it is easier to know where the characters should be looking and to create shots accordingly.

Summary – Using Eyeline Match to Great Effect

Eyeline match is a tool that all filmmakers should understand. The technique is there to make films more impactful and create more gripping dialog, as well as helping the story to move along. 

Our skilled team of directors and filmmakers can use eyeline match along with many other techniques to provide the exact kind of impact you are looking for in your video. Matching eyelines can give a film better continuity editing, and make the interactions between characters and their surroundings make much more sense.

To put our teams skills into action and use the technique of eyeline matching, as well as other continuity effects, to bring your vision into reality, reach out to our team today to get started.