In our last post we talked about best practices for shooting an interview on video. Now that you have your interview (which you should always do first) it’s time to collect your BRoll.
So what is BRoll? Well, BRoll is anything that isn’t your interview (ARoll). For all you You Do Video folks, if you’re shooting video around your store or office, showing off your products or quality of service, you’re capturing BRoll.
Why should you shoot your interview first? Well, you’ll need to capture the appropriate BRoll that matches what your interviewee talked about!
The quality of your BRoll is as important as the quality of your interview. Your BRoll will bring your organization to life in ways that only video can. Here are a few tips that will ensure you capture dynamic and engaging BRoll, that both looks good and is fun to edit (which the 12 Stars Production Team will appreciate).
Get Close
One of the biggest mistakes you can make while shooting BRoll is timidness. The easiest thing in the world is to hang back and shoot everything from afar (what’s called a wide or medium shot). GET IN THERE! Get close. Get in people’s faces. Put your camera right up close to your subject. Show people an angle that they might not ever see in real life.
Get High and Low
If you can, find a way to get a bird’s eye view of whatever you’re shooting.
After you do that, plop down on the ground and point the camera upward.
Get Moving
If you don’t move the camera, you might as well just take still photographs, because it won’t be interesting. If you’re in a coffee shop, follow the waitress as she moves from the cappuccino machine to the eager patron at their table. If you’re in a factory, follow the product as it moves down the conveyer belt. If you’re feeling especially brave, set the camera down on something that moves and let it go!
If you’re the type who doesn’t have a steady hand, consider investing in a monopod. These are very affordable (typically around $30) and can make a huge difference in the quality of your shot.
Get Sound
Don’t forget that when you’re capturing video, you’re not only capturing sight but also sound. Good sound can really bring your production to life, especially if you’re shooting in an environment that has a lot of rich, natural sound – like a coffee shop, restaurant, repair shop or assembly line. No one likes a silent picture slideshow, so make it a point to record the organic sound happening around you. Don’t be afraid to ask an employee or patron to make some noise! They will be more than happy to oblige.
When capturing your BRoll, make a checklist in your mind: Do I have a wide shot? Do I have a close up? Did I move the camera on this object? If yes, move on to your next shot. This will ensure that you capture a varied library of footage. Remember, it’s better to overshoot than to not have enough to edit with!
About Steven Shattuck
These are good tips... I was just watching one of my packages the other day, and it dawned on me, that every single one of my b-roll insert shots was a closeup going into a zoomout while pivoting the camera during the zoom. Now, don't get me wrong, its a cool shot, but the same thing over and over, it looks like its all i know how to do... so i came here looking for more tips.
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