{"id":1999,"date":"2021-01-06T13:57:35","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T13:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/?p=1999"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:33:13","slug":"shooting-b-roll-footage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new-blog.artlist.io\/blog\/shooting-b-roll-footage\/","title":{"rendered":"How to shoot killer b-roll"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s in everything \u2014 <\/span>music videos, blockbuster films, TV shows, wedding videos, and commercials. Yes, we are talking about B-roll. It may seem like the easiest part of the production, but shooting awesome B-roll doesn\u2019t happen by accident. Artlist recognizes the talent it takes to produce killer B-roll, and that\u2019s why it has rewarded outstanding filmmakers in the B-Roll Challenge<\/a>. Get inspiration from filmmakers like these and learn how to produce your own killer B-roll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, AI tools <\/span>can<\/span> help you generate B-roll before you need to think about (or instead of) booking a studio.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is B-roll?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The term B-roll originated in film days as \u201cB-Reel,\u201d a designation for secondary, supplemental footage to A-roll, or primary footage. In the digital age, the term \u201cA-roll\u201d has fallen out of use, but B-roll, (also B roll\/Broll), is still a widely used term in filmmaking and videography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, B-roll footage is recorded without sound and is made up of establishing shots, cutaways, scenery, or action to support primary imagery. In larger productions, B-roll is often produced by smaller 2nd unit crews while the director stays with the principal crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B-roll <\/span>doesn\u2019t<\/span> need to be shot on location and can even be created digitally. <\/span>AI-generated<\/span> B-roll can help you create visuals, no crew, studio, or reshoots needed. It\u2019s a great solution for creating cutaways, environmental shots, or  creating effects that would cost a lot of time, budget, and effort to <\/span>create<\/span> otherwise<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do you need B-roll?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

B-roll footage is crucial to support the principal photography. Without it, your story or film will be incomplete. A-roll focuses on characters and the primary plot, while B-roll provides vital cutaways and transitions to fill gaps in your timeline. It\u2019s even used to cover mistakes (but don\u2019t tell anyone!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"wes<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here you have A-roll from the Artlist documentary ‘Behind the Process<\/a>‘…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B-roll for every type of production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The type of B-roll you need depends on your production. Whether it\u2019s a documentary, narrative, commercial, or travel film will determine how and what kind of B-roll you shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In documentary films, B-roll is used to layer over interviews. You\u2019ll want coverage about five times as long as the final interview to cut away to and support what your subject is saying. This kind of B-roll makes talking head footage much more engaging. It\u2019s also a chance to get creative. Documentary B-roll doesn\u2019t have to be typical. It can be comical, even antagonistic, to what the subject is talking about. Documentary B-Roll can also be sourced footage, such as archived newsreel or historical photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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…And its accompanying B-roll<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Narrative B-roll footage includes establishing shots. Think of the horror movie scene that opens with images of a sleepy, rural town. Or the story of a small-town actor arriving in New York City. The introductory B-roll may include portraits of characters working, taxis zipping by, or people filing into the Subway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercial B-roll can include product shots such as macro or slo-mo footage. Here\u2019s an example of a well-planned and executed B-roll to make up an entire branded video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n