What Is B-Roll?
The term B-Roll may seem unfamiliar to people without a video production background. So, you may be asking yourself, “What is B-Roll?”
B-Roll Footage is a secondary video clips edited with the main footage (A-Roll). These video clips are filmed specifically as a tool to tell a story visually and to provide more context, detail, and background. B-Roll can be anything from objects, people, locations, archival images, reenactments, product demonstrations, and more.
Why Is B-Roll Footage Important?
B-Roll footage can add depth to the story and provide extra visuals so viewers do not see similar shots in succession. This footage will enhance video content; it keeps viewers engaged throughout the piece.
B-Roll can enhance the emotion in a clip through different angles and points of view. This footage is essential because you can use it to transition between scenes or set the video’s tone.
How Does B-Roll Improve Videos?
You can use B-Roll in every type of production, from documentaries and interviews to movies and commercials. The more variety the footage provides, the better because it keeps viewers interested and engaged.
B-Roll And Marketing
B-Roll is a massive component of creating quality marketing videos that perform. B-Roll can enhance the overall results by making the video more compelling. No one likes watching a boring video with only one static shot throughout. That is why using B-Roll adds variety and engages the viewer. For short-form advertisements, use B-Roll to communicate more to the audience in a short amount of time.
Lastly, B-Roll can also cover up editing issues in the main footage. It provides flexibility and scalability to produce excellent results. For example, if a speaker stutters when reading the script or responding to an interview question, the editor can use B-Roll to cover this error with a relevant clip. B-Roll is an effective solution to cover up otherwise noticeable mistakes without compromising the quality of the overall video.
B-Roll visually enhances video production projects. This tool lets you quickly provide context and background while keeping viewers engaged. B-Roll can provide footage of a product or scene and can be used to cover up mistakes in the main footage. It adds depth to the final product and is a helpful component in creating engaging videos. Try and capture more B-Roll footage than you need to give you more variety during the editing process and extra options to add depth to your production. If the content you are capturing is evergreen, you can always reuse B-Roll clips for other purposes.
When creating videos in the future, whether you are working with a production company, a marketing company, or making content yourself, DO NOT underestimate the power of B-Roll and its value to the final results.
Sydney Krupka (She/Her), Copywriter – Blog Writer Sydney was born in Grande Prairie, AB, and moved to Kelowna when she was 13. She completed her Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialty in Marketing and has a passion for writing. Sydney has been copywriting for over two years and enjoys creating content for any industry and business.
Grace Larson (She/Her), Project Assistant – Blog Editor Grace recently completed her Business Administration Diploma in Management at Northwestern Polytechnic, where she graduated as Valedictorian, and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources. Grace has years of project management experience in organizing student and youth events.
Mariah Braun (She/Her), M3M Marketing Owner, CEO – Blog Writer & Editor Mariah, Owner of M3M Marketing, has spent most of her career focused on creating content for various organizations. She has managed marketing projects for the public sector, post-secondary education, and small businesses since 2015.