B-roll

[bee-rohl]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

stock footage from film or digital libraries used to establish locale, atmosphere, etc., or to provide generic thematic video, such as for a category of television news story.
video footage shot for a story, television show, or film, often by a secondary film crew, especially depicting building exteriors and used to establish the locale in which a film or show is set.
The actors all filmed in Toronto, but the show’s opening theme song played over B-roll of the New York skyline and a block of brownstones.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of B-roll¹

First recorded in 1980–85; A-roll ( def. )

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Cinematographer Carlos Rigo and editor Arturo Sosa groove along with eye-catching colors and skateboard-video-style visuals, even inserting B-roll from a camera strapped to a horse’s head and doing a dramatic zoom to a sheep.

From

The footage often opened with b-roll from around the neighborhood, followed by introductions to hidden neighborhood gems, like coffee shops or restaurants.

From

I often think of it as like B-roll that I’m shooting on that first day.

From

As for how Allred has been going after Cruz, though, consider the B-roll shown in the second half of this response ad.

From

So when they brought in the script, they had a guy come in to shoot some B-roll for the DVD.

From

brolga brolly

Browse