b-roll
C1Technical / Media / Business (informal)
Definition
Meaning
Supplemental video footage used to cut away from main action or interviews in film or television production.
Any secondary or supporting material that provides context, visual interest, or covers edits in a primary narrative. In business jargon, can metaphorically refer to background information or supporting content.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun in film/TV; can be used attributively (as in 'b-roll footage'). Originated from film editing where 'A-roll' contained principal shots and 'B-roll' contained secondary material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally understood in professional media contexts in both varieties. No significant spelling or meaning variation.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. In non-technical business contexts, may be seen as slightly pretentious jargon.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media industries due to historical Hollywood influence, but common in UK production.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
edit with b-rollcut to b-rolllayer b-roll oversupplement with b-rollshoot some b-rollVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. Technical term.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing/presentation contexts: 'We need some corporate b-roll of the factory for the investor video.'
Academic
Rare; mainly in film/media studies courses discussing production techniques.
Everyday
Very uncommon. Mostly limited to people involved in video production.
Technical
Standard term in film, television, and online video production for secondary visual material.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The director asked us to grab some shots to b-roll the interview segments. (informal/jargon)
- We need to b-roll the CEO's speech with shots of the new product.
American English
- Let's b-roll the spokesperson with some shots of the facility. (informal/jargon)
- The editor suggested we b-roll that section to hide the jump cut.
adverb
British English
- [Not used adverbially]
American English
- [Not used adverbially]
adjective
British English
- She manages the b-roll library for the production company.
- We're looking for b-roll material from the London office.
American English
- He's in charge of all the b-roll footage for the documentary series.
- We have a b-roll crew scheduled for Tuesday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Level too low. Not applicable.]
- The video used b-roll of people working in the office.
- We watched a film about nature with beautiful b-roll of animals.
- The documentary cut to b-roll of city streets while the historian spoke.
- Our team needs to shoot additional b-roll to cover the edits in the main interview.
- The editor skilfully intercut the tense interview with calming b-roll of the countryside, creating an ironic contrast.
- A robust library of branded b-roll is an essential asset for any modern corporate communications department.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'B' for 'Background' or 'Backup' footage.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECONDARY MATERIAL IS A SUPPORTING ROLE (like a 'B-side' of a record or a 'B-team' in sports).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'B-ролл' or 'B-катушка'. The term is not directly translatable. Use описательный перевод: 'вспомогательные кадры', 'дополнительное видео', 'фоновое видео'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling it as 'b roll', 'broll', or 'bee-roll'. Using it as a verb ('to b-roll') is non-standard in formal contexts. Confusing it with 'stock footage' (b-roll can be specifically shot, stock footage is pre-existing).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of b-roll?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the standard spelling in industry texts includes the hyphen: b-roll.
Primarily for video. For still photography in a similar supporting role, terms like 'supplementary images' or 'background photos' are used, though by analogy some might say 'photo b-roll' informally.
The direct opposite is 'A-roll', which refers to the primary footage containing the main subject or interview.
Yes. Whether shot by you or acquired, all b-roll footage must be properly licensed for its intended use (commercial, editorial, etc.) to avoid copyright infringement.