video editing Archives - Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman In Tips and Tricks, Teaching and Training, Feature Film, Television, For Pros

Stop Shooting “B-Roll”

Shooting “B-Roll” is a mistake.

“B-roll” shots are an editing short-cut from news-gathering in the ’80s. Crews on the run learned to grab over-the-shoulder shots of the newsperson looking serious or flames in a burning house to save time in editing, which took forever on linear reel-to-reel video decks. Over the next 40 years, “gotta get b-roll” filtered down Truth with a capital T from trainer to trainee, and from teachers to students, oozing its way gradually into other forms of video and film shooting.

But the whole concept of b-roll is fatally flawed. I’m not saying you shouldn’t shoot … Read the rest

Steve Stockman In Tips and Tricks, If you’re new to video, Video Marketing, Feature Film, Television, For Pros, Your Questions Answered

Shooting like the Pros

I am a professional videographer, and your advice to “shoot short shots” is totally misguided. Pros shoot more than they need so they can make their video perfect in the editing room. Turning the camera on and off is an amateur move. How have you made a living in this business?

–Chris F., New York

Watch any film or TV show and you’ll see a series of very short shots (read why here). I argue that most people should get out of the habit of running the camera non-stop when shooting. And every so often I get a letter … Read the rest

Steve Stockman In Tips and Tricks, Video Marketing, For Pros, Your Questions Answered

Am I Using B-Roll Right?

I was once taught that B-roll is best cut in 3’s, but in this piece I couldn’t get that to work with the pacing on the dialogue. Does the edit feel forced in this piece?

What other “rules or tips” of editing would help me?

–Brian Wilcox

I don’t believe in “b-roll.” As a concept, I mean. “B-roll” is the term commonly applied to that extra stuff we shoot (when there’s time) that we use to patch holes in our edit later. My problem: the name “b-roll” implies “not ‘A’ material.” It’s an afterthought.

In a truly great video, there … Read the rest