Strong narration can still feel flat on screen when every line is delivered as talking head footage. B-roll and supporting visuals give viewers something to watch while they listen. The challenge is planning those visuals early enough that recording day stays efficient.
The B-roll planner turns a script into a scene-by-scene shot list in your browser. Paste your draft, split it into sections, review suggested visual types, edit production notes, and export CSV or Markdown for an editor or teammate. Your script stays on your device.
Step 1: Start with a script written for spoken delivery
Shot planning works best when the script already sounds natural aloud. Short sentences, clear scene breaks, and explicit transitions help both the presenter and the visual plan.
If you are adapting slide notes, rewrite bullets into full sentences you will actually say. Remove labels such as "Slide 3" unless you plan to speak them. For lesson videos, include verbal signposts such as "Next, open the settings panel" because those phrases often signal a screen recording shot.
When runtime is tight, estimate length with the script length calculator before you build the shot list. Knowing the target duration helps you decide how much B-roll each section can support.
Step 2: Paste the script and choose a split mode
Paste the full script into the planner text box. Choose how scenes should be separated:
- Blank lines work for scripts already broken into paragraphs or scenes.
- Slide or scene labels work when lines start with
Scene 1,Slide 2, or similar headings. - Divider lines work when sections are separated by rows of dashes or equals signs.
Pick the mode that matches your draft. If the shot list looks too granular, combine sections in the source script and paste again. If it looks too broad, add blank lines between beats you want as separate shots.
Step 3: Review suggested visual types per scene
Each scene receives a suggested visual type based on common keywords and pacing. Typical categories include:
- Talking head (A-roll) for direct intros, hooks, and short on-camera statements.
- Screen recording for software walkthroughs, dashboards, and click-by-click demos.
- Product demo for hands-on feature highlights and close-up product shots.
- B-roll coverage for illustrative footage that supports the narration.
- Text or graphic for statistics, quotes, titles, and simple callouts.
- Stock or placeholder for generic footage you plan to replace with licensed clips later.
Treat suggestions as a starting point. A line about "our team" might default to B-roll even when you intend a talking head in the office. Change the dropdown per scene to match your brand, classroom, or client guidelines.
Step 4: Add production notes editors can use
The notes field is where planning becomes actionable. Replace vague ideas with specific capture instructions:
- For screen recording, name the app, the starting screen, and the exact click sequence.
- For B-roll, describe location, subject, and framing (wide vs. close).
- For text graphics, list the exact number or quote that should appear on screen.
If you leave notes empty, the export uses the starter suggestion for that scene. Filling in even one sentence per scene saves back-and-forth messages on recording day.
Step 5: Export and share the shot list
Enter a project title that matches your video or lesson name. Then choose an export format:
- CSV for spreadsheets, production trackers, and agency handoffs.
- Markdown for shared docs, wikis, and async review.
- Copy Markdown when you want to paste directly into Notion or a team channel without downloading a file.
Share the export with anyone who will shoot, record screens, or search for stock footage. Include links to reference images when you have them.
Step 6: Rehearse with the teleprompter
A shot list does not replace rehearsal. After you finalize visuals, paste the same script into the teleprompter tool and read aloud at your intended pace. Rehearsal reveals sentences that are too long for a single take and moments where you need an extra pause before a screen recording segment.
Record in the order that is fastest for your setup. Many creators batch all talking head lines first, then capture screen recordings while the demo environment is open. Teachers may prefer recording lesson narration in one pass, then adding B-roll inserts during editing.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Matching B-roll that does not support the line. Generic office footage rarely helps when the narration mentions a specific product screen. Either record the screen or swap in a graphic.
Overloading every scene with motion. Some lines land better on a steady talking head shot. Not every sentence needs cutaway footage.
Forgetting rights for stock clips. Use the stock placeholder type as a reminder to license footage before publish.
Skipping the shot list for "short" videos. Even a ninety-second explainer benefits from one planned screen recording and one title card.
Privacy note
Because the B-roll planner runs locally in your browser, it fits drafts that include unreleased products, student examples, client names, or internal training details. Nothing is uploaded during planning. Keep the exported CSV or Markdown on your normal secure channels when the script is sensitive.
Quick checklist
- Paste the script and confirm scene count looks right.
- Adjust visual types scene by scene.
- Add specific production notes.
- Export CSV or Markdown with a clear project title.
- Rehearse with the teleprompter before recording.
- Batch capture by visual type to save setup time.
Planning B-roll before you shoot turns a script into a shared production plan. Your editor, collaborator, or future self will spend less time guessing what each line was supposed to show on screen.