Contrasting screen direction is used to show subject movement in opposite directions. This can be shown by a subject moving toward a distant destination and then returning to the starting place. An example would be a sailor who leaves the ship and walks in a left to right screen direction to town. Therefore, the ship-to-town direction is established as left to right. Movement of the sailor to the right is toward the town and movement to the left is toward the ship. The viewer will associate the sailor's walking in a right to left screen direction as returning to the ship. Once the direction of travel is established, you must maintain it.

Contrasting screen direction is also used to show opposing subjects moving toward each other. An example would be two warships that are headed into battle. The first ship is shown steaming from left to right, and the second ship is shown steaming from right to left. This pattern gives viewers the impression that the ships are closing the distance between them and will soon meet.

Static Screen Direction

Static screen direction refers to the direction that subjects look or face. Screen direction must be established and maintained even when the subject does not move about within the scene. The direction in which the subject looks should match throughout a series of consecutive shots. The direction the subject faces can be different from the direction that the subject looks; therefore, the static screen direction is the direction in which the subject is looking. To maintain static screen

Figure 13-14. To maintain static screen direction, do not cross the action axis with a camera.

direction, the camera operator must remain on one side of the action axis (fig. 13-14).