Why You Should NOT Shoot B-Roll - Part 2

[@ralphkaydenmusic]

I love the way you explain it. Everything on a deeper level - true story telling.

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

+Ralph Kayden great to hear! Just uploaded a follow up video to the broll topic!

[@RyRyMohr]

I watched both of these videos. You’ve most definitely changed the way I feel about b-roll footage, great job!!!!

[@zvonimirdrolc1316]

Makes more sense now, well thought out and said.

[@ondrejjanoska660]

Watching this and listening your words is finally giving a words to my feeling about epic b roll cinematic sequences.

[@PaulVoden]

Great stuff here man! This is a good topic since it’s rampant on KZbin now and people may think it’s the best way to tell a story when in fact it isn’t. The methods you outline are on point. Bravo. 👌

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Thanks mate, yeah think there’s surely gonna be an anti movement to that sooner or later. Right now everything starts to look the same

[@niallflynn1094]

Great stuff as always. Inspiration as I am nearly finished my third mini doc. Keep up the great work.

[@evilpigskin]

This is a big advice. Script, shot list, everything planned. Keep at it.

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Glad you found it helpful! :)

[@peopleiknow2896]

Thanks again this is very relevant to what I've been shooting today and will be for the next few days.

[@stuckinohio]

very well said. my goal is to implement this way of shooting more in my work moving forward. Thanks for the great advice once again.

[@alexjames7142]

Again this the the video prior are blowing my mind when you said stop shooting slow with music over time you where right god this is blowing my mind

[@PeteWoronowski]

This is so very helpful Jonny! I have re-written 3 pages of notes on the docs I want to start soon and I won't even think about starting till I'm actually ready. Cheers, Pete

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Thanks! Awesome Pete! For me a great way to start is by creating a mood board of what you want to do. To try to create a consistent style and such. That can help you to pick lens and aperture and stuff to make it more consistent. It helps to create a look and perspective that fits the story

[@PeteWoronowski]

Excellent advice, Thanks again!

[@PeteWoronowski]

Jonny, what day is your next live stream?

[@JyrkiS]

First I was like, what the hell are you talking about, but then it clicked. Basically you're not saying don't film b-roll, you're saying don't film "b-roll" aka "meaningless fluff", "just because you should" or without any reason behind it. It's true people often think using b-roll just to cover talking head segments with "cinematic" footage. I'm guilty for it too often, learning my way away of it though. People add meaningless slow-mo shots just cos those look cool. And nothing wrong with that, but you can use cinematic slow-mo shots even when you have reason behind them. And when they have some reason, they become 100 times more effective. Thanks for these videos, you make me really want to step up my game in KZbin and in my actual job.

[@sleavesleather]

I was thinking the same thing at first!! When it clicked that you need to shoot "inserts" that relate or add to the story then I was like.... Okay, got it, and I totally agree.

[@SUALNHSSENIORHIGH]

That's narrative story telling using the camera as the point of view.That makes him an award winning story teller! Thanks a lot!

[@mayablueeyes8321]

So I am in 8th grade filming a short documentary about a butterfly conservatory. If I am shooting about the curator (the biologist) would it be ok to add shots of him walking or working on a project or would that be b roll. Also if I add butterfly clips is that b roll, even though the video is about butterflies.

[@js_filming7701]

I like your way of thinking! Thanks!

[@sleavesleather]

Great information... I couldn't agree more. I watch a lot of vloggers / story tellers on KZbin that make this mistake you're talking about here. The "inserts" or b-roll they shoot have nothing to do with or add any value to the story they're telling... they're just placing drone footage or timelapse shots into their footage because they saw some big vlogger do it so now they think that's how it should be done! Great intro to your channel for me! Just subbed... looking forward to learning more from you!

[@AlexCio]

I loved this scene with the chain saw! Thanks for the tipps! :)

[@TomJoeSHOW]

Great video. Great story telling tips

[@amanisaking]

Thank you for this. I changed my pre shoot routine.

[@khylerunnels]

I love your videos. How do you get such clean and clear audio even when you're outside?

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Thanks! Mainly by using good microphones. Most of outdoor stuff is recorded with the Sanken Cos 11d and a lectrosonics pdr. But then also sound mixing in the end.

[@ELJAGUAR]

2:12" hahaha just for fun! learning to think differently Jhonny. Thanks! waiting for the episode 3

[@MadisonBPhotography]

Interesting video, thanks for sharing!

[@brannicpang]

exactly! as long we know how to use that b-roll and planned .. b-roll is really helpful .. if we shoot the b-roll just to keep it as backup and don't even know how to cut in .. then is no good ...(it will better to buy footage online...hahahah)

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Yep, as long as your trying to say something with it it’s great. As soon as you use it as an excuse not to plan your lazy :)

[@ztreet14]

Great videos , ''yeah i'm talking to you....Peter Mc....'' hahahah

[@scany1980]

I get the point and it’s good!

[@BedroomAnxiety]

great content. i subbed! keep it up :) but maybe you could have simplified your message a bit - because of the low patience from most viewers. But i totally got the point that most vloggers (especially the instagram boys ^^) use broll just to stretch their videos without it giving value to the story except to look cool.

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Thanks! Yeah but there’s always another side of the coin. I find myself turning off the slow notion heavy collages and move to the next video when I feel it’s boring me. I can’t be the only one doing that

[@HLCMEDIA]

I think you will hate your *Autofocus* even more 😁😬 Do you finally mounted now your Antenna?

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Worst thing ever! But! I think I made some progress today with the C300, discovered a setting that only refocuses on the face. So maybe it can become more reliable :) pain in the ass to shoot yourself without it

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Oh yeah! And the antenna! Almost, had to order that mount, have had it on a tripod until now. But the wall mount should be here any day now :)

[@HLCMEDIA]

I hope then your Live Streams will work fine :)

[@TommYFreaK]

I like the out of focus scenes! Something different

[@liushunan4310]

dude! Subscribe you! smart brain, honest!

[@fieldnote_music]

Interesting topic. I think a lot of people have different matters of interpretation of what B-roll really is. For me it's always been cutaway footage for documentaries/interviews because I work like that a lot. But B-roll can also mean secondary footage that is not as important to the story but could have it's use, perhaps shot by someone else than the main cinematographer. I guess what your saying is that we should focus on shooting planned A-roll if we aim to tell a great story, or just call B-roll A-roll maybe? :D

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Yeah I think the thing that bothers me is that when you say something is B, you automatically put less emphasis on is. Especially in terms of thought and how it’s part of the story. Now B in Hollywood is still freakin serious, that I have zero issues with. But the broll that is random shots without thought is just sign of being unprepared. That’s just laziness to not want to prepare, even though we’re all guilty of it, it shouldn’t be something you strive for

[@fieldnote_music]

Hear you! Storytelling wise I think there's room for improvement for all of us (KZbinrs), you are doing a great job already of course :) But shooting unprepared might be a start for many to learn the fundamentals of filmmaking. Just getting out shooting can be a good thing I think. If they prep to much they might never learn to even shoot. But of course, always focus on what you want the viewer to feel! :D

[@ms.5779]

Thanks for this common sense advice

[@SurajBoddu]

Kinda convinced at this point.... A suggestion - can you make your videos true 21:9 instead of cropping the top and bottom of the clip? I'm on an ultra wide and the fact that I have bars not only on the sides but also on the top and bottom bothers me. Hope you take this in the right stride. As I said before, love your work!!

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Thanks! I would do that but earlier you couldn’t use end cards if you don’t make it 16:9 but will check if YT have changed that by now. I’m annoyed at it as well :)

[@SurajBoddu]

Its still the same. I render my videos in 21:9 and honestly its worth the tradeoff haha.

[@omykola]

This was shot on gh5 or c300?

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

C300 mainly in the studio, outside mainly gh5

[@coopersimagination1203]

Subscribed!

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Awesome! Just now did a follow-up video to the b-roll one that you can check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2m5l52Ng7mnqas

[@ELJAGUAR]

ok...let's see how it goes today!

[@Samuel.Andersen]

👏🏼

[@romananoyko4960]

Good stuff. But. Nice b-roll can also improve the atmosphere achievement in storytelling, so you shouldn't neglect b-roll's capabilities, i think 🤔

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

That’s true but it’s more effective if it not only create atmosphere but also focus on story. As soon as you start working with any pro editor they’ll throw away most stuff that isn’t relevant to the story. They’ll make your 90min film into a 5min short if it doesn’t hold up ;)

[@SatanicJamnic]

Are you roasting Peter Mckinnon and his brother in this series? ;D

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Haha not at all but he does like slowmo. I like his videos though. But more when he is him, he’s a fantastic character. Great in front of the camera. So the slowmo does take away from a chance to tell more I guess. But I also like Justin Escalona who also loves slomo. It’s just that when used too much, too many times of the same thing, too long. Then it gets repetitive and I loose interest :)

[@krayzmitchell505]

Uhh 🤔 Your titles is miss leading and very much click bait. Why did you need to make a part 2 of saying the same thing over and over? You cant go telling people not to shoot B-Roll because it means you didnt have a plan. Its 2018 and people are planning their B-Roll so there is that. ohh.. and it looks epic asf... Which leads to more attention and more attention means you are reaching more people with your creative work. I for one "LOVE" seeing epic cinematic footage used and transitions. But yes..... it has to be themed around the main idea.. If a video is boring im going to hit next. Unless im really looking for educational stuff, that is literally the only way you get me to watch a static shot video.

[@TomStreller]

Didn't you put random B-Roll in almost any of your previous videos? Like talking about lighting and showing you sitting in a plane or in NY or anything totally unrelated? And now to tell people B-Roll sucks.. just seems pathetic and contentious to me. You definitely try too hard to be somehow provoking and edgy.

[@Jonnyvonwallstrom]

Well don’t think you realize that most videos here are a mashup of my life. That means that whatever archive I have of it is used to try to tell a documentary story of my life. Even, when I do a vlog, tutorial or anything. The story is about a filmmaker making films. So no they’re not irrelevant, even though they weren’t shot with a plan to use for that purpose. B-roll is too often used to cover your ass, to not have to plan. That’s a lazy way of doing things. B-roll as I say, can be great, as long as it’s telling a story. It is the concept of laziness that comes with the term b-roll that’s something I advice anybody to stay away from. Shooting stupid hand shots to cover cuts in an interview, too many irrelevant slow motion shots of the same things, the list goes on. Doubt you’ll listen to anything cause your mind is closed already. But it would be a good exercise for you to open up how you approach things if you want to progress...

[@PeteWoronowski]

Watch the video's again. Planned B roll with a purpose in mind becomes a perfect insert, what he is telling you not to do is just to shoot anything and everything to make up for a poorly planned, lazy and stupid fix to something you didn't do right in the first place. Kinda like making a rude comment before you know what the hell your talking about.