"
The Line" is a
term in
film direction for the
formula of framing
the human form in the most visually appealing manner. In standard direction of a
portrait shot (
closeup of the human face) 'on the line' has the
character's eyes framed
2/
3rds of the way up from the bottom of the screen. With a full body
shot of one or more people, the line is usually
drawn through the face(s) of the focal character(s), again
2/
3rds of the way up from the bottom of the
screen. Framing the face in this way lends an air of
symmetry to the shot, as it roughly matches the placing of the eyes in relation to
the human head. Examples of this can be seen in almost any
mainstream movie.
Framing the human face or form with the eyes 'below the line' is often used by
alternative filmmakers as a method of unsettling the viewer as it unbalances the feel of the shot, a good example of which can be seen in
David Lynch's '
Eraserhead' where Lynch often moves Henry's face to the
centre of the screen in the more
intense scenes.