← Glossary · Cinematography

B-Roll

aka B roll · Supplementary footage

Supplementary footage - cutaways, inserts, scenery, atmosphere - that supports the main A-roll and gives the editor somewhere to cut.

B-roll is everything that is not the primary action: establishing shots, cutaways, inserts, scenery, hands on a steering wheel, a clock on the wall. The main coverage is the A-roll; the B-roll gives the editor the material to bridge cuts, cover a jump, set a location, or change the pace. Documentary and commercial work lean on it heavily, and even narrative shoots schedule a B-roll list so the unit grabs the supporting shots while the set is lit. Plan it on the shot list, board it like any other frame, and tag it on the breakdown so it lands on the call sheet rather than being remembered on the day.