Training video production is the end-to-end process of creating a finished instructional video, spanning three sequential phases: pre-production, production, and post-production.
Why it matters#
Most problems in a finished training video were created before filming began. A weak video script, an unplanned b-roll list, or an undertested video kit produce footage that editing cannot fix. Understanding the three-phase structure makes it possible to catch problems at the cheapest possible moment — in a document, not on a filming day.
The three phases#
Pre-production#
Everything that happens before the camera starts recording.
| Task | Notes |
|---|---|
| Confirm video training is the right medium | Check against the learning objective and available resources before committing |
| Write and approve the video script | Include attention reset cues and b-roll markers in the script itself |
| Build the b-roll shot list | Derived directly from the script; every marked moment needs a corresponding shot |
| Set up and test the video kit | Camera, tripod, key and fill lighting, microphone; check exposure, focus, and colour |
| Prepare chroma key if needed | Green screen must be evenly lit before filming begins |
| Schedule screen capture sessions | These require separate time from the main presenter shoot |
Production#
Filming day. The goal is to capture everything the edit will need — primary footage, b-roll, and screen capture — without gaps that force a return shoot.
- Use a teleprompter so the presenter does not have to memorise the script
- Manage on-camera delivery — energy, conversational tone, and pacing
- Work through the b-roll shot list; record each clip for at least ten seconds
- Multiple takes are expected and planned for; the first take is rarely the best
Post-production#
Editing and output.
- Assemble primary footage and cut to b-roll at the planned attention reset points
- Apply chroma key compositing if a green screen was used
- Integrate screen capture sequences
- Add text overlays, graphics, and audio correction
- Review pacing — confirm resets land where attention would otherwise dip
- Export and deliver
Key facts#
- Phase order is not negotiable. Production cannot compensate for missing pre-production. Editing cannot compensate for missing production assets. Each phase closes off options for the next.
- The script is the foundation of every downstream decision. The shot list, kit setup, scheduling, and edit structure all trace back to what the script requires. Approve it before anything else begins.
- B-roll and screen capture require separate scheduling. Both are commonly treated as afterthoughts and both are commonly missing on edit day.
- The project management triangle applies. Scope, time, and quality — you can optimise for two. Knowing which two matter most for a given project shapes every production decision that follows.