Storyboard Imitation

In this scene only one rule was broken and that was the 180 degree rule. If you notice the camera shifts directly across the line through the exchange of dialogue. It is broken when the camera switches from one side of the table to the other. This is because they are engaging in a conversation, and the point of view changes from Mark Zuckerberg, to the prosecutor who is asking him the questions. This camera change is also known as a reverse angle or shot. The sole motivation for the switch is perspective and it works because they stick to the established positions that the people are in.

The rule of thirds is applied to this scene for the most part. If you notice in the first scene Mark Zuckerberg is position in the left grid of the frame, and the attorney is framed in the right part of the frame. As the director breaks 180 this continuity stays mostly accurate because then the prosecutor is framed in the right side of the frame during the switch, but Mark Zuckerberg is more in the left center in the next shot. I think this is motivated by wanting your focus to be on Zuckerberg first at all times, due to the fact that we visualize things from left to right. Therefore you are always seeing Zuckerberg first.

The 30 degree rule applies to these shots. There are no jump cuts, or any jarring switches that take away from the attention of the scene, unless it is on purpose(such as the attention to the window when Zuckerberg says "It just started raining)."

I think the director's motivation for this whole entire scene was putting Zuckerberg in the center of it all. He is the person we care about, not the people talking to him. This scene is totally about him. The cameras are framed in such a way that you're always focused on him, rather than the other people in the room. This is due to his framing.