A shot of something other than the main action, used to add detail or bridge a cut.
A cutaway briefly leaves the main subject to show something related — a detail, a reaction, an object. Editors use cutaways to add information, build pace, and crucially to hide edits in the primary footage (for example, covering a jump in an interview). They are a fundamental problem-solving tool in the edit.
B-roll is the footage that makes your edit breathe — but only when you know exactly when to reach for it and when to put it away.
A practical guide to every cut and transition a video editor needs to know, with clear rules for when each one earns its place in a timeline.
Studio432 edits concert footage, music videos, gaming content, vlogs and short-form for creators worldwide. Send the footage, get a quote by email.
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