What is B-roll?

April 13, 2018

Often when I talk with people who are not involved in the video industry I’m asked to explain a lot of the terminology we use. In this blog I’ll attempt to explain B roll

The term B roll is the opposite of the seldom used term A-roll. A-roll being your main footage such as and interview while B-roll is the secondary footage that usually supports the main footage.

These terms stems from the analog linear editing days of film or video tape. In order to transition between two different piece of footage they had to be on separate film rolls or video tapes called A-roll and the B-roll.

B-roll is alternative or supplemental video footage that is intercut with the your main shots. It’s also known as a cutaway where you visually interrupt or literally cut away from your main shot to an alternate shot. For instance, when you have an interview with someone describing how they test blood samples in a laboratory, to make it more visually interesting and informative you cutaway to B-roll of someone actually testing a blood sample in a lab.

When a video is created it is usually editied together from a series of shorter pieces of dialogue from an interview that are strung together in a linear fashion. If you listen with you eyes closed it sounds like a continuos narrative piece. When you watch it you will see the that the characters movement jumps around because of the pieces that were removed or the rearranged. These edits are called jump cuts. They have become quite popular on social media videos but are not suitable for every style of video.

B-roll is used to cover those jump cuts. The effect is that dialogue will sound more natural and consistant because the B-roll hides the cuts. An bonus is that the B roll can support or enhance the narrative with a second stream of visual content.

Hire Us

Tell your story in a way that resonates with your audience and creates engagement. We work with any budget and time constraints.

Schedule a free 20 minute consultation with us.

 

Learn from the pros

Did you know that corporate videos can feel authentic? Let us help you tell your story in a way that resonates with your audience and creates engagement.

Schedule a free consultation now.

You might be interested in

April 8, 2020
Producing the documentary “Demystifying Cannabis” has taken us on an unexpected journey and taught us much more than we expected. When Justin Trudeau announced in 2015 that the legalization of recreational cannabis would be part of Canada’s Liberal Party’s platform, it surprised me to say the least. Cannabis wasn’t considered a hot issue and I think that most Canadians felt like they knew everything about this plant. Yet, it was obvious that becoming the first
April 13, 2018
Often when I talk with people who are not involved in the video industry I’m asked to explain a lot of the terminology we use. In this blog I’ll attempt to explain B roll The term B roll is the opposite of the seldom used term A-roll. A-roll being your main footage such as and interview while B-roll is the secondary footage that usually supports the main footage. These terms stems from the analog linear editing
April 10, 2018
The first thing I recommend when filming from a boat is to stay dry! There are many things to consider when filming on the water: What is the subject matter, what camera are you using, what are the conditions i.e. rain and wind, do you want to get underwater shots, do you need sound? I filmed and directed 7 seasons of our doc-drama series called Dark Waters of Crime. For all the scenes on or
April 14, 2018
Nobody wants to appear awkward or self-conscious in a video they post for the world to see. But this is a common concern for people who are new to being an on-camera personality. A critical part of attracting and audience with your video presentation is to look authentic and professional.Authenticity comes from being prepared, knowing what you want to say and presenting it in a manner that appeals to your target audience. and you need

Get video content in your inbox every week