footage

Footage refers to moving visual material captured on film or video and used in the creation of films, television programs, documentaries, and other media projects. Historically the term derived from the physical length of film measured in feet, a practice that reflected how footage was stored and billed. In contemporary practice, footage can refer to material shot on digital cameras, video tapers, or other recording formats, and the word remains a general term for usable video material.

Footage is typically categorized by its role in production. Raw footage or d raw is the unedited material shot during production. Dailies or rushes are copies viewed by producers or directors soon after shooting to assess performance and coverage. Stock footage or library footage consists of pre-shot material available for licensing, often used to stand in for scenes or to save production time. Archival footage refers to historic or previously produced material retained for reuse in new productions. In editing, terms such as A-roll (main action and dialogue) and B-roll (supplementary visuals) describe how footage is arranged to tell a story.

Licensing and rights management are important aspects of using footage. Producers must secure permissions for visible individuals, locations, brands, and copyrighted material, and may negotiate royalties or one-time licenses. Metadata, time codes, and file formats play a crucial role in organizing and locating footage during post-production.

In the digital era, the volume of footage has increased substantially due to affordable cameras and cloud storage. This has expanded libraries of stock and archival footage while simplifying editing workflows and distribution across platforms.