In a news package, which footage is used to illustrate the story but is not the primary action?

• A. B-Roll
• B. A-Roll
• C. Cold Copy
• D. Cutaway

Answer: (A)

B-roll is the supplemental footage used to illustrate the story while the main action is captured on the primary footage. This type of shots provides visual context—shots of the location, people in the background, close-ups of objects, or actions described by the narration—without being the main thing the viewer sees or the primary action driving the story. It supports and enhances the narration or interview segments, helping the audience understand what’s being discussed.

The primary action, or A-roll, is the main on-camera footage—the reporter, host, or interview subjects delivering the core information. Cold copy refers to the script used for voiceovers or reads, not video. A cutaway is a short shot that temporarily leaves the main action to show something related; it’s a type of supplemental footage, but the general term for this illustrating footage is B-roll, which is why that option is the best fit.