Eyeline match

Watch as an animation →

In plain words

Matches the direction a character is looking with the position of the subject in the next shot, so it reads as "they're looking at that."

When to use it

A character looks up at the sky, then you show an approaching plane.

Example videos

6 Ways to Edit Any Scene — Essential Film & Video Editing Techniques Explained (Shot List Ep. 10) — Explainer: See the principle of how a character's gaze direction and the next shot's subject fit together.
5 Examples of Eyeline Match — Real: See five scenes where a look is followed by the thing being looked at.

In AI video, like this

In A, specify the gaze direction, such as "looks up and to the right, off-screen", and make B at the angle that fits it (a low angle if it is a looking-up view). If the gaze comes out reversed, use hflip, but only for shots without text or logos.

One-click prompt

Two-shot sequence: Shot 1, close-up of a boy on a rooftop looking up and to the right, off-screen, eyes wide, 2 seconds; hard cut to Shot 2, low-angle shot from his point of view of a giant whale-shaped kite drifting across the afternoon sky, 3 seconds, same sunlight.

See it in real films and ads

Joshua Brady — 5 Examples of Eyeline Match

AI-made examples

Not verified

Recommended for scenes like these

Techniques that pair well

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