TO B-ROLL OR NOT TO B-ROLL – The Road to Launch my First YouTube ad – Day 8

Welcome to day 8 of the road to launch my first YouTube ad. Today I look at b-roll and where I am with the final edits.

I remember watching an episode of the famous British TV show QI, with the legendary host Stephen Fry (The current host is the brilliant Sandi Toksvig).

This is a great show for some high brow smirking as discussions take place that have a more educated depth to them when compared to other prime time comedy shows.

On this particular show, the topic of discussion was what makes actors successful. After the usual scurry for answers – Stephen Fry puts us all out of our misery by concluding the one factor that makes actors successful is the editor.

The Editor is the Gatekeeper of Success

The editor has the power to make or break an actor. Ultimately it’s the editor that chooses what story to tell and how the viewers will perceive the characters.

So if you’re an actor, make sure you stay on the good side of the editor.

I’ve edited videos in the past, but this is the first time I edited a video with the purpose of it being an ad.

This means the editing must pull together a persuasive and compelling final video.

In the right hands of the right editor, the exact same footage could be perceived in two totally different ways.

I therefore know I have a big task on my hands.

I’m now on what I have labelled Take 4 of the editing process and I’m reasonable happy with it.

One thing I am wrestling with however is the concept of B-roll.

What is B-roll?

B-roll is footage that is secondary to the main footage of the video. It can be used for various reasons, such as building an atmosphere, a flashback, a cut-off for more in-depth information, and so on.

I notice many people applying this B-roll technique in their final edit. I’ve seen it used brilliantly and I’ve seen it used terribly.

Once again proving that it’s not about the footage but the editing that goes on behind the footage.

Why the struggle?

I’m struggling with it because I don’t want to come off as cheesy or fake and honestly if I was going to have b-roll I’d want it to be based on original content I create as opposed to stock footage of actors, which either paint an unrealistic scenario or insult the intelligence of the viewer.

I can easily see how original B-roll footage would make my YouTube ad better, but I have to ask myself if it’s worth the effort.

While I believe it could make the ad better, I do not believe it will be the difference between the ad working or not working.

I therefore want to see if this ad works at all.

If it does, perhaps it will be worth the extra effort to enhance it with some well thought out original B-roll footage.

Want to see what I’ve done?

Missed day 1?

Check it out here – The Road to Launch my First YouTube ad. Day 1