What Is Footage? Tips for Great Ad Video Footage

In advertising video production, the term video footage is no longer unfamiliar. It is an indispensable part of making quality ad videos. So, to better understand What is footage and and how to create beautiful, impressive video footage for your communication campaigns, Read on as MONA Media read the details in the article below.

What is footage?

What is footage? This term refers to video clips or shots recorded by a camera, edited or unedited. This footage can be music videos, real-life shots or any other video content, and it is used to build a finished video product. 

More specifically, footage usually includes:

• Raw footage (RAW Footage): Video clips with no editing at all, usually recorded straight from the camera. RAW footage keeps the original image and sound quality, so the editor can edit flexibly during post-production.
• Edited footage: Video clips that have been processed, cut and assembled, with effects added or colors graded for a specific purpose.

In production, raw video footage is usually large and needs to be stored on high-performance devices. For example, a small advertising video project can have around 20GB of footage. Compressing and optimizing file size is therefore necessary for storage and broadcast.

What types of video footage are there?

Now that you know what footage is, how is it classified? Video footage is divided into 3 main types: RAW footage, A-Roll and B-Roll, each playing an important role in making a complete video. Specifically:

RAW Footage

RAW footage is unprocessed footage recorded straight from the camera sensor with no editing. It has the highest image quality, with true-to-life detail and color. 

Because it keeps the sensor data intact, video editors like RAW footage: it allows in-depth adjustment of color, brightness and other technical elements in post-production. However, this footage is large and needs storage devices that can handle it well.

A-Roll

What is A-Roll in footage? It is the main footage, made up of the core shots that carry the story of the video. In talk shows, documentaries and news, A-Roll usually includes interviews, dialogue and shots that deliver the main message. 

However, too much A-Roll can make a video monotonous and boring. To avoid this, combine A-Roll with supporting shots (B-Roll) to make the video livelier and more engaging.

B-Roll

B-Roll, also called supporting footage, is usually not directly tied to the main story but is very important for enriching the video. It includes transition shots, background shots, or wide angles such as scenery, streets, or details outside the main content. 

So you need to understand what B-Roll is in making footage, so you can connect it with A-Roll sections. This creates smooth transitions and holds viewers' attention. Shooting plenty of B-Roll also gives you material to reuse in later videos, saving time and effort on future projects.

Sometimes a simple but genuine piece of footage creates more emotion and impact than a polished video. See how MONA uses real-life moments to build brands, deliver messages and persuade customers, all starting from recording what seems the most “ordinary”.

Tips for creating great footage for advertising videos

Now that you know the details of what footage is and what types of video footage there are, what matters is having an impressive way to create footage. This does not rely on filming skills alone; it also needs suitable equipment and supporting techniques. Choosing equipment and applying the right shooting methods improve the look and effectiveness of your footage. 

Below are some tips for creating footage for advertising videos that MONA is confident will help you create beautiful, professional films and videos.

Storyboard

In video production, making a storyboard is often underrated, but it is a very important and necessary step if you wonder how to create footage. A storyboard turns ideas into something concrete and guides the editor through filming and editing. 

With a detailed storyboard, footage production is more coherent and has fewer mistakes. That is why professional producers always spend time preparing the storyboard carefully before production starts.

Supporting lighting equipment

Light is a key factor in quality footage. Lighting equipment helps the camera capture shots with more detail and truer color, especially in low light. 

Footage such as outdoor news or interviews is usually supported by lights to bring out the main subject, which makes post-production easier. For easy transport, choose compact lighting equipment that still provides enough light for your shots.

Using a prime lens

For sharp, high-quality shots, add a prime lens. This lens has a fixed focal length and shoots with a wide aperture from f1.2 to f2.8. 

With good background blur and sharp images even in low light, prime lenses are favored by professional cinematographers for video footage. However, using this lens takes careful planning because you cannot change the framing without moving.

Quay RAW Footage

Shooting RAW footage is the best way to keep the authenticity and image quality while filming. This is raw data from the camera sensor, unprocessed, so color and detail are kept at maximum. 

To transfer data from the camera to the computer more easily, you can also use a codec, a compression method that reduces file size while keeping high video quality.

Do not use zoom when shooting footage

One thing to note when creating video footage: limit or avoid the zoom function entirely when shooting TV commercials. Zooming while filming can reduce image quality and make the footage blurry. 

Instead of zooming, use the dolly technique: move the camera forward or back to get a close-up or a wide shot. This makes shots smoother and keeps them sharp for professional-looking film.

Shoot at 24 fps

On frame rate, 24 fps (frames per second) is the common standard in cinema and gives the most natural images. It is also the ideal setting for video footage because it matches how the human eye perceives motion. Depending on your goal, you can choose other settings such as 30 fps or 60 fps for special needs, such as fast-moving scenes.

Make video footage look better with color grading

Color grading is just as important in making video footage lively. Adjusting color settings such as contrast, brightness and saturation makes the video brighter and gives viewers a stronger emotional response. 

However, color grading is not easy and requires professional knowledge and an eye for aesthetics. If you lack experience, taking a color grading course will help you learn the skills and work with your footage with more confidence.

With all of the above combined, producing beautiful, professional footage is no longer hard. Understanding what footage is and applying the right techniques will help you get impressive, effective advertising videos.

If you run into difficulties in production or need a reliable TVC production company, MONA Media can help. TVC production with a professional crew and the most modern equipment, we are confident in delivering real value to clients.

So what is that value?

• Researching the industry and the business before creating a “one-of-a-kind” TVC
• Help with the TVC script, edits made on request
• Building a practical marketing strategy right into the TVC
• A crew that is always ensures a professional and careful finish in post-production
• Advertising videos that attract viewers and quickly raise conversion rates

Understanding user psychology and with experience from projects for hundreds of partners and businesses in every field, why wait? Contact the MONA team via HOTLINE 1900 636 648 for advice on TVC production pricing, and dedicated support for advertising video production servicesfootball jerseys or our product video production services of the highest professional standard!

That is what MONA wanted to share about What is footage and tips for creating beautiful, professional footage for advertising. We hope this knowledge helps you create impressive video footage for your advertising campaigns.

→ See more MONA Media services:

• Corporate video production services
• Company profile photography
• Product photography

If your budget doesn't stretch to a full shoot with staging, there is another route: MONA's AI video editing service. The parts that need to be real are still filmed for real, while AI handles the backgrounds and staging, usually at about a third of the cost. If you would like to try it yourself first, read AI video tools for beginners.