B-roll
Intercut visual material
B-roll is supplementary footage used in film and video production to cut away from the main shot.
While an interview subject speaks, editors insert B-roll—street scenes, hands at work, relevant imagery—to illustrate points and add visual variety.
We need more B-roll of the factory floor.
The term contrasts with A-roll, the primary footage.
View with exterior removed
- insertPlace within another thing
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- overlayCovering placed atop
- fillerSubstance closing gaps
interstitial · coverage · cut-in · panoramic · aerials · time-lapse · slow-motion · pan
Serving to complete
- secondaryLesser in rank
- supplementalAdded to complete
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- illustrativeServing to explain
generic · library · archive · ambient · non-diegetic · pickup · transitional
Join end to end
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- clipCut or attach
- timelineOrdered display of events
- trimRemove unwanted edges
cut · assemble · juxtaposition · continuity · post-production · rough-cut · transition · layering
cutaway
View with exterior removed
filler · interstitial · coverage · cut-in · panoramic · aerials · time-lapse · slow-motion · pan · tilt
supplementary
Serving to complete
- secondaryLesser in rank
- supplementalAdded to complete
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
illustrative · generic · library · archive · ambient · non-diegetic · pickup · transitional
splice
Join end to end
trim · cut · assemble · juxtaposition · continuity · post-production · rough-cut · transition · layering · pacing
- mediatelevision, mass media, news, broadcasting, video
- News Coveragelive broadcast, press pass, interviews, photo ops, press pool
- video clipstrailers, stock footage, scenes, previews, teasers
- video contentepisode, YouTube, subtitles, web series, Vimeo
- video recordingcamcorder, recording, videotape, footage, filming
- archive footagenewsreel, stock footage, documentary footage, news clips, vintage film
B-rollinterview footage
Recorded segments of questioning
principal photography · talking head · hero shot · stand-up · master shot