What, Exactly, is B-roll?

You’ve heard the term and I am 1,000% sure you have seen countless examples, but…. what, exactly, is b-roll and why is it so useful in post production?

To answer that, let’s first explain what A-roll is.

A-roll usually contains the primary content — interviews, narration, or the “main action.”

B-roll is footage (or photos) that adds context, variety, and visual interest. It might show cutaway shots, scenery, people working, objects being discussed, or background activity.

There are several reasons why one would use B-roll in addition to A-roll:

1) Enhance the story: Add detail and context to the narrative.

2) Create visual interest: Make a video more dynamic and engaging.

3) Provide transitions: Smoothly connect different parts of a video.

4) Hide edits: Cover up pauses or mistakes in the main footage.

5) Establish a setting: Show the location and create a sense of place.

Below is a short example of B-roll. In this case, we have a training video that talks about in-person training. As the subject describes what in-person training is, this video (which has no audio) would be a great supplement to illustrate the point that the subject is describing verbally.