B-Roll Shotlist
& Prompt Generator
Parse key verbs, nouns, and narrative beats from voiceover copy to generate concrete camera shot types, lens choices, and asset search queries for your video editor.
Start shotlistAutomated B-Roll Shotlist Generator
Paste your voiceover script. The engine parses key action beats to generate concrete shot classifications, optical framing notes, and stock library search queries.
| Shot Classification | Visual Direction & Framing | Stock / Prompt Search Term |
|---|---|---|
| Awaiting script input above... | Click 'Generate B-Roll Shotlist' or try an example. | -- |
The 3-Second Cut Rule & Visual Retention Mechanics
Preventing Visual Fatigue
Digital video audiences do not drop off because of bad audio; they leave because of static visual framing. When an A-roll talking head remains on screen for longer than four seconds without a camera push, text callout, or B-roll cutaway, the viewer's subconscious registers inactivity.
Effective video editors rely on pattern interrupts: alternating between wide establishing shots, tight tactile macros, screen recordings, and kinetic graphics every 2.5 to 3.5 seconds. This constant reset of the eye's focal plane refreshes attention loops and sustains high retention through complex technical explanations.
Literal vs. Conceptual B-Roll
Amateur editors fall into the trap of purely literal coverage: if the presenter says "money," they show a stack of cash; if they say "global," they show a spinning globe. This creates visual cliché that undermines perceived authority.
High-retention essays pair spoken concepts with contrasting or mechanical visual evidence. If your voiceover analyzes financial distress, cut to a manufacturing plant floor going dark, an extreme close-up of a trading terminal cursor blinking, or a macro lens sliding across a blueprint. Let the visual column add new layers of context rather than simply illustrating spoken words.
The 3 Essential Coverage Shot Types
Close-ups of physical interactions—fingers typing, switches clicking, dials turning—to ground abstract ideas in physical reality.
Documentary photos or earnings filings highlighted with animated paper tears and glowing bounding boxes.
Slow push-ins on quiet empty rooms, server racks, or streets to build atmospheric weight between fast dialogue beats.
Related Visual & Script Tools
STUDIO DESKIntegrate your generated shotlist into full video pre-production:
Need Fully Directed AV Screenplays?
We write research-backed video essays and short-form scripts with timed visual cutaways, camera cues, and complete asset notes.