Blogs /  
Tips & Tricks

Create A-Roll Footage Without Shooting, Just Typing (Royalty Free)

Ayesha Shaheryar
November 25, 2022

You don't need to be a professional filmmaker to create high-quality A-roll footage. You don't even need a camera! With today's technology, you only need HeyGen web app.

As a YouTuber or video editor, you always look for new footage to use in your videos. But sometimes, shooting new A-roll footage can be time-consuming and expensive.

Fortunately, there's an easy way to get high-quality A-roll footage without shooting a thing: type out your script on HeyGen!

Yes, you read that right.

You can create professional-grade A-roll footage by simply typing your script on HeyGen. Do you want to know more about creating A-roll royalty-free footage?

Do not skip and continue reading, as we will provide you with detailed information.

Table of Contents

Part1. A-Roll Footage Vs. B-Roll Footage

When it comes to filmmaking, two main types of footage are used: A-roll footage and B-roll footage.

Both types of footage serve a specific purpose and play an essential role in filmmaking.

A-Roll Footage B-Roll Footage
A-roll footage is the primary footage for a particular scene or sequence. Filmmakers typically shoot this footage with actors. B-roll footage is secondary footage that is shot in addition to the A-roll footage. This footage can include shots of the locations, props, or anything else that may be relevant to the scene or sequence. B-roll footage is often used to add visual interest or to provide context for the A-roll footage.
A-roll footage is the main footage that tells the story B-roll footage is used to support the story. 
It usually consists of interviews, dialogues, and other scenes essential to the plot. The director and the cinematographer usually shoot this type of footage. It often consists of shots of locations, scenery, and other elements that are not essential to the plot but help to provide context and visual interest. This footage is often shot by the second unit or specialized camera operators.

A-roll and B-roll footage play an essential role in video editing.

  • A-roll footage is the leading video footage that contains the direct action or story.
  • B-roll footage is supplementary footage that can be used to add context, emotion or visual interest to the main story.
To speak frankly, A-roll video = a talking head video

When choosing which footage to use, editors must consider the purpose of the video and the overall tone they want to create.

  • A-roll footage is often more straightforward to work with, but it can sometimes be too bland on its own.
  • B-roll footage can add a lot of depth and interest to a video, but it can also be overwhelming if there's too much of it.

The best video edits often use a mix of both A-roll and B-roll footage.

By carefully selecting the right shots and sequences, editors can create visually exciting and informative videos.

Part 2. Best A-Roll Generator Without Shooting

Creating A-roll footage is a challenge that every filmmaker faces. The process usually involves shooting the footage, then editing it into a final product.

It is a time-consuming and expensive process. Many people are shy to show their faces in videos, or the cost of hiring models is high.

HeyGen - an A-roll generator that makes creating A-roll footage easier.

This tool allows you to create footage without having to shoot it. This means that you can create talking head video by simply enter the script! (save time and money). It's a kind of technology called 'Text to Video'

In addition, you can use copyright free-AI avatars to create videos that are more personal and intimate. You can also create your own avatar facial animation feature to show your face in the video. As you won't have to worry about shooting it yourself, you can focus on making sure the footage looks its best.

You can easily create an A-roll footage with the help of HeyGen. Follow these steps to make the best A-roll footage:

  1. Choose the template based on your preference.
  2. Choose your avatar from 60+ AI avatars or upload your picture to customize yours.
  3. Now, enter the script you want your avatar to speak. 
  4. Finally, hit the submit button.
You may also like: Tips for Planning Video Scripts | Guide, Templates, and Examples

Part3. Five Copyright-Free B-Roll Videos Stock You Need 

There are a lot of different websites to find copyright-free stock footage, but here are five of our favorites:

Pexels offers over 1853+ royalty-free B-roll stock videos that you can easily download and use for your next project. 

You can filter the videos by different criteria, such as duration, resolution, or frame rate.

The web app is optimized for PC users, so you'll have no trouble finding the video you need.

pexels

Videezy is an excellent resource for finding royalty-free video footage. 

The site offers many videos, from nature and landscapes to cityscapes and time-lapses. 

You can also find a variety of video clips that are perfect for your next project. 

Videezy also offers a Premium membership which gives you access to even more video footage.

Videezy

iStock is a leading provider of royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, videos, and audio files.

With over 200 million files available, iStock has one of the largest collections of royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, videos, and audio files.

iStock offers a variety of pricing options to fit your budget.

istock

Coverr.co is a website that helps you create professional-looking video covers for your YouTube channel.

If you want to create your design, you can do so from scratch or choose from several templates.

Coverr.co also offers a wide range of features to help you customize your video cover.

You can also use Coverr.co to create a custom video thumbnail for your YouTube channel.

Creating a professional-looking video cover for your YouTube channel is easy with Coverr.co.

coverr

Pond5.com is a leading royalty-free video site with over 10 million clips available for download.

No sign-up is required to access the website, and users can browse through the vast selection of videos using the search bar or browsing through the different categories.

Each video clip on Pond5.com comes with a description, tags, and a license type. Users can also rate each video clip and leave comments.

Pond5.com offers two types of licenses for their video clips – Standard and Extended. Standard licenses allow users to use the videos for personal or commercial purposes, while Extended licenses allow for unlimited use of the videos.

Pond5

FAQs

How Long Should A-Roll Be On A Video?

A-roll should be approximately 15 to 30 seconds in length. Any longer, it begins to feel intrusive and boring; any shorter and your audience may miss seeing the essential part of the video.

What Makes Good Narration On The A-Roll?

To make a compelling A-roll video, start with a solid script. Make sure you're clear and accurate in what you ask the audience to do but don't throw in too much tech jargon. It’s what grabs the viewer’s attention, makes them care and keeps them engaged while they wait to hear what the B-roll has to say.

You may also interesting in: 8 Best Online Video Editors in 2022