How to Spice Up Your B-Roll Footage

Just because you’re shooting b-roll doesn’t mean it has to be bland and boring.

If you’re unfamiliar, there are two types of footage taken on set: A-roll and B-roll. A-roll refers to the principal photography of a project, like characters engaging in a conversation over dinner. B-roll is supplemental footage that supports the A-roll. In this hypothetical dinner scene, you might want some supporting shots of the setting or background actors.

A lot of times, filmmakers might think that the A-roll is what matters, and that the B-roll is almost throwaway footage you grab at the end of a long shoot when, in fact, it can be equally important. And just because some footage is supplemental doesn’t mean it has to be boring or uncreative.

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