The ABC of Interview Garnishing
The 'B' in B-Roll stands neither for 'Backup' nor for 'Boring'. Not even for 'Boobs', as you might suspect from my shoots. No, it obviously stands for 'Brilliant'. I just made that up. But let's be honest: Without B-Roll, every interview would simply be bland.
So what to do? Imagine filming a fascinating personality just talking. Boring! That's why we show them in their natural environment. This almost sounds like wildlife filming. But that's pretty much the best approach.
Here are the ten golden B-Roll rules for anyone who wants to turn their interviews into real highlights. I'll take the liberty of describing it using a playmate interview:
The "Dynamic & Detail" Shots
-
The Medium Shot
Or as I call it: The "Half-Portion" Shot. Here you show your playmate from the waist up during a natural activity. Maybe while undressing. Or adjusting their outfit. The ideal middle ground between intimacy and overview.
-
Face Close-up
Also known as the "Makeup Inspector". Here you get so close to your protagonist that you can capture every enchanting detail. Particularly effective during expressive moments or a radiant smile. Winking is cheesy but still works well.
-
Hands in Close-up
The "Detail Shot". Whether her hand glides through sand, picks up a seashell, or runs through her hair, hands tell their own stories and create intimate moments of special intensity.
-
Over-the-Shoulder
The "I'm Taking You Along" Shot. You literally look over your protagonist's shoulder and see the world from their perspective. For example, when she looks at the sea and watches the waves. Also works well in motion. Always stay nice and close.
-
Unique Angles
Or the "How-Did-I-Even-Get-Here?" Shot. Place the camera in a pit or climb a rock, get creative! Unusual perspectives make your clip special. Yoga experience is advantageous. In a pinch, a drone will do.
Trust me, you can never have too many of these shots. So here are the next five you should always film.
The "Magic & Moments" Collection
-
Detail Shots
The "Sherlock Holmes" shots. Diving goggles on sun-warmed volcanic rock, water droplets rolling over wet skin, anything with mouth and eating or drinking always works too. Important: Also detail shots without the model! These small moments perfectly tell the story of a day.
-
Walk and Look
The "Leading Role" moment. She walks through the frame as if her life were a Netflix series. Looking into the camera forbidden. We're not making a TikTok challenge here.
-
Establishing Shot
Also known as the "Ta-da, here I am!" moment. She emerges from turquoise water. Immediately reminds of James Bond. She needs to be introduced. That's why it's called a Hero Shot. Might sound cliché, but it's the perfect opening for a clip. Where are we and who is it about.
-
Video Portrait
The "Mona Lisa Moment". She sits on a rock, the wind plays with her hair, then she slowly turns to the camera. Or: She leans against a car, the golden evening light hits her face while she looks directly into the lens. Pure cinematic magic. A portrait with subtle movement.
-
Timelapse
Or: "The World in Fast Motion". Clouds race over a small bay or the sun rises or sets. A multipurpose tool that you can always use well. Especially when you don't have enough other material.
B-Roll is like seasoning in film cuisine: The right amount transforms your interview from "talking head" to "visual feast". Too much distracts. However, I've never had too much selection. Rather too little.
P.S.: The perfect wave for the establishing shot? Comes exactly when you're changing your lens.
P.P.S.: In case you're interested: The "B" in B-Roll naturally comes from the era of real film rolls. A-Roll was the main material, B-Roll the transition stuff. Today everything is digital, but old terms never die. Thankfully, otherwise I'd have to say "supplementary-visual-accompanying-material" now.