Training Video Guide
Pre-Production > Production > Post-Production
If you are looking for an engaging training tool that provides maximum flexibility, then commissioning a training video production is a powerful and cost effective option. Interactive menus, sequenced video segments, foreign language options, linking to websites, and accessing printed materials are just some of the features that have made training video formats such as DVD and CD-ROM so popular. Outlined below are the three key stages of production.
Choosing the right training video production company is a vital first step in translating your exacting training requirements into the world of video. Agencies will vary in style and approach, however there are a few key pointers that will help you differentiate the ‘good’ from the ‘bad’.
Firstly, look for a company that provides a consultancy service rather than going for the hard sell. With budgets ranging from £6000 to over £100,000, it is vital that you feel comfortable with the production company’s attitude, organisation and approach, as well as their creative proposals. It is a good idea to arrange the first meeting at their offices as this will give you the opportunity to inspect their facilities. Video production companies that have made a significant investment in their edit suites and other technical kit are more likely to value higher standards of production. This will pay dividends when you view the finished training video.
- Click Here to request a copy of I-MOTUS’ Training Video Production Showreel DVD
Pre-Production
Having chosen a suitable training video production company, the process of producing a training video should be relatively straightforward. Throughout the pre-production period, a good production company will take the problem off your desk and carefully project manage the entire process. In order for them to do this, they will have to be provided with a concise brief that clearly states your intentions for the project, including:
- Who is the intended audience for the training video?
- What are the objectives of the training video?
- What are the key training messages?
- How is the training video likely to be used?
- Who and what needs to be filmed and where?
- What format will the programme be delivered in – CD ROM, DVD or web clips?
- What are the timescales for the project?
Once the production company has taken your brief and you are happy with their creative proposal, they will formulate a scope and project plan to outline all the key stages of production, including who is responsible for each activity. A good training video production company will accommodate your input whilst taking responsibility for the bulk of the production, involving the client at integral stages of development.
A video production scope document is the reference document for all projects for both the client and the training video production company. The document describes in detail the audience, objectives, messages, proposed treatment, filming schedule and budget for the programme. This budget is completely transparent in that it itemizes the individual activities contained in the production process and states the daily rate and the estimate of time required for each activity.
Once the scope is agreed, the duration and direction of the production process will depend very much on the individual requirements of the training video. For example, if a script is necessary, a first draft will be issued for approval, after which any amendments will be made before the final version is signed off. It is important to note that a shooting script outlines everything that will be included in the programme. The project should never go any further until a final version of the script has been approved. The training video production company will also book all crew, presenters, organise filming permits, confirm locations and arrange all other administrative and logistical duties during this pre-production period.
- Click Here to request a copy of our Training Video Production Showreel DVD
Production
The ‘production’ defines the actual filming of the training video and, depending on the number of locations, is usually the shortest phase of the process. From travelling to multiple locations across a number of countries to a simple one day city shoot, good pre-production will have ensured a smooth production period.
Probably the most important aspect of the video production process is the filming. Filming is charged by the eight hour day and cannot be cancelled or postponed less than 72 hours before the proposed filming day. You cannot book half a day of filming - it will be the standard day rate as the director and crew (cameraman and sound engineer) are unable to take on any other work that day. You should therefore aim to maximise each video production filming day.
It is the pictures that tell the story and so if the script or the interviewees are discussing a subject, then that subject should appear in vision as “cutaway” material. Any spare time on a training video filming day should be used to capture good video cutaway material to add to the programme.
If a training video production company is sent to interview someone, particularly someone who is key to the programme, they will want to make the interview look as good as possible. They will therefore need to have access to the interviewee’s office or a conference room at least one hour before the interview is scheduled in order to create the set and light the room. It is also important that the room chosen for the interview does not suffer from background noise such a lift, canteen or busy road.
Finally always try to ensure that a member of your team accompanies the video production company crew on each filming day. Sometimes, through no fault of the video production company, things go wrong on a film shoot. An interviewee may turn up 2 hours late, a fire alarm may go off and the building needs to be evacuated and so on. In such circumstances the crew will need to make instant decisions about how to prioritise the remaining filming for that day and it is extremely helpful to the training video production company if one of your team is there to help them.
- Click Here to request a copy of our Training Video Production Showreel DVD
Post-Production
The post-production period is often the most exciting part of the training video production process as you can begin to see the training programme come to life.
The first stage will involve a rough ‘edit for content’. This is to ensure you are completely satisfied with the narrative of the programme and that all the key messages have been satisfactorily addressed. Having approved the rough edit, the training video production company will then begin to fine tune the training video, adding graphics, cutaway material and grading the footage to give the required aesthetic appeal. Once this has been completed, you will be invited to view the programme again so that any final changes can be made.
At this phase of the training video production process the signed off programme can be encoded to your preferred format including DVD, CD ROM, VHS or internet movie files. It is important to ensure that the production company offers to create an archive of all the footage captured for your programme. This will ensure valuable future savings should you ever require another training video production.
More Information
Request information about our video production services or call 0845 430 4448 to speak to a member of our training video production team.