Problem: In the filmmaking and video production business, B-roll, B roll, B-reel or B reel is supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot whereas A-roll refers to main footage. There are many different types of B-roll, including: insert shots, FX shots, establishing shots, stock footage, and pickup shots. This B-roll footage is often added to or drawn from a stock footage library.
What if you could synthetically generate this B-roll for filmmakers or content creators?
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Solution: Unlike existing competitors like Pexels, Motion Array, iStock by Getty Images, Artlist, or StoryBlocks, this business would focus on generating synthetic B-roll that is highly customized to each filmmakers specific style, needs, and aesthetic. Moreover, it would be significantly cheaper because it would build upon the work of (or even utilize the work of) RunwayML which specializes in text-to-video technology. See below for two examples of still images that their video engine can create.
In fact Runway has even already released a version of this with the Gen-2 Footage Packs launched on June 14th.
I have no doubt that within the next 5 years individuals will be able to create videos at parity with reality. The question, then, will be what use-cases to apply this technology to. One that I clearly see is B-Roll.
Contributed by: Michael Bervell (Billion Dollar Startup Ideas)