17:39
how I shoot b-roll now
Jesse Senko
Overview
This video provides a comprehensive guide for filmmakers, particularly those working in documentary or corporate styles, on how to shoot footage that is editor-friendly and enhances the storytelling process. The presenter emphasizes a "shoot for the edit, don't edit while you shoot" philosophy, advocating for deliberate shooting practices. Key advice includes varying shot sizes (wide, medium, close-up), ensuring sufficient clip length (minimum 10 seconds), avoiding mindless long takes, and capturing diverse coverage. The guide also touches on interview techniques, the importance of transitions, and the value of communicating with editors to improve future shoots.
How was this?
Save this permanently with flashcards, quizzes, and AI chat
Chapters
- Separate creative and analytical thinking: Don't try to edit in-camera; focus on capturing footage.
- Multitasking is inefficient: Constantly switching between shooting and editing disrupts creative flow.
- Shoot with the final edit in mind, anticipating how shots will be used to tell the story.
- Even in unscripted situations, fundamental shooting rules can guide the process.
This foundational principle ensures that your footage is usable and helps maintain your creative momentum during the shoot, leading to a more cohesive and effective final product.
Instead of cutting a shot as soon as a person walks out of frame, hold the shot for a few extra seconds to allow for a potential logo overlay or a cleaner transition.
- Vary shot sizes to provide context and detail for the story.
- Wide shots establish location and scale (e.g., a person alone in a large workshop).
- Medium shots show action and interaction.
- Close-ups highlight details and emotions.
A consistent variety of shot sizes ensures that editors have the necessary building blocks to construct a visually engaging narrative, answering fundamental questions like 'where,' 'who,' and 'what.'
Filming a craftsman working in their shop: a wide shot shows the entire space, a medium shot shows them operating a tool, and a close-up captures the detail of their hands at work.
- Avoid shooting very short clips (e.g., 1-2 seconds) which offer little editing flexibility.
- Establish a minimum clip length, ideally 10 seconds, to provide 'handles' for editing.
- Hold shots for at least 4 seconds after the action concludes to allow for smooth transitions and avoid cutting off crucial moments.
Longer clips provide editors with flexibility, allowing them to select the best part of a take, create smooth transitions, and avoid unusable footage due to camera shake or abrupt cuts.
When filming someone walking through a scene, continue rolling for 4 seconds after they exit the frame, creating a clean background that can be used for text or graphics.
- Resist the urge to continuously record everything without purpose ('shooting like a squirrel').
- This creates excessive footage that editors must sift through, wasting valuable time.
- Break footage into manageable, distinct rolls or sequences that are easier to navigate.
- Exceptions exist for documenting entire processes, but this should be a conscious choice.
Organized and intentional shooting saves editors significant time and effort, allowing them to focus on crafting the story rather than excavating through raw footage.
Instead of one continuous, hours-long recording of an event, break it down into shorter, labeled segments like 'Setup,' 'Main Speaker,' 'Audience Q&A.'
- Think of documentary footage like narrative coverage: film both sides of a conversation or different angles of an action.
- Capture close-ups of tools or details related to the main action.
- Use creative angles and varied perspectives to keep the audience engaged.
- Employ transitions (like match cuts) to creatively move the story forward in time or space.
Comprehensive and creative coverage provides editors with options to maintain visual interest, illustrate interview points, and seamlessly guide the viewer through the narrative.
A match cut from an ape throwing a bone in the air in '2001: A Space Odyssey' to a spaceship, signifying a massive leap in time and technology.
- Let interviews roll for extended periods (45-60 minutes) to capture natural conversation and reduce editing friction.
- Don't be afraid to show yourself fumbling for questions; it can lead to more authentic responses.
- Vary eyelines between subjects in multi-interview scenarios to avoid jarring jump cuts.
- Alternate lighting and camera angles between subjects for visual distinction.
Longer interview takes and varied presentation styles result in more natural, honest dialogue and provide editors with cleaner, more distinct footage to work with.
When interviewing a second person, have them look slightly off-camera in the opposite direction of the first interviewee, creating a clear visual separation.
Key takeaways
- Prioritize shooting for the edit by separating creative and analytical tasks during filming.
- Always capture a variety of shot sizes (wide, medium, close-up) to provide comprehensive coverage.
- Ensure all clips are at least 10 seconds long to give editors sufficient flexibility.
- Avoid 'squirrel shooting' by organizing footage into logical, manageable segments.
- Think creatively about coverage and transitions to enhance storytelling.
- Let interviews run long and vary subject eyelines for more natural and usable footage.
- Communicate with your editor about their preferences and any challenges encountered during the shoot.
Key terms
B-rollDoc-style videoShoot for the editWide shotMedium shotClose-upClip handlesCoverageMatch cutEyeline
Test your understanding
- Why is it important to avoid editing while shooting, and what are the cognitive reasons behind this advice?
- How does varying shot sizes (wide, medium, close-up) contribute to a stronger narrative in documentary filmmaking?
- What is the minimum recommended clip length for B-roll, and why is this duration beneficial for the editing process?
- How can a filmmaker intentionally capture creative coverage and utilize transitions to enhance a story?
- What are the benefits of letting interviews run for extended periods, and how can varying eyelines improve interview footage?