B-roll: More than pictures

B-Roll is video footage, with or without sound, used by broadcasters to supplement the main elements of a news story. In addition to the video, B-roll includes key images, copy and back-up material. It may include short quotes from spokespeople as well as sounds and images. It typically contains video without sound for broadcasters to select their own segment of the video for their story and they will match it with a voice over or on-screen explanation from the reporter or anchor.

For the most part, B-roll enhances, adds dimension or visually tells the story, but the origin of B-roll was footage shot that could cover an editing jump cut.

In the world of film and documentaries, B-roll is quite often thought of as back-up footage. For film, the producer uses the footage to edit together unconsecutively shot clips or scenes. This is done by changing from the A-roll to the B-roll while the audio from the A roll shot or another source plays under the B-roll. The footage allows the editor to cut back to footage, so that it appears as if the two scenes, visual and audio, were shot together as one piece.

In the context of news, B-roll has a different use. B-roll footage is provided to a broadcast news station to complement a story. It is shot in advance of the story that will run on the news. Producers set up the the provided visuals, but add their own or provided script from a news release or fact sheet and the reporter or anchor does the audio narration so the story appears like it was all done by the news station.

B-roll for news includes the picture stories followed by a series of soundbytes from spokespeople, people interviewed, sounds or "words from the man on the street". Each section of the video is introduced by what is know of as a slate. A slate is a black frame that runs for a few minutes before the B-roll footage is shown. The slate typically includes the title of the slate/segment, spokesperson's name and title, a short description of the footage and the the time the footage runs (usually in seconds).

When footage is provided in this format, editors and producers use the copy provided such as a suggested script, talking points, a fact sheet, a backgrounder or other important information to describe the story with the visual B-roll footage to backup the story for a segment in their news program.

Video publicity needs high-quality, timely, newsworthy footage to get the attention of news decision-makers. Broadcasters are likely to use B-roll of events with celebrities, action-packed stories, and new products or services.

B-roll works best when it is carefully and concisely edited. Accompanying interviews or sound bites always follow the B-roll footage.

Remember to always include a table of contents of slates, logo(s), graphic(s), photo(s) and the contact name and number on a slate at the end of B-roll.