As a major assignment in my Digital Literacies course, I was tasked with creating a “Getting Started” video guide for a program of my choice. Because I enjoy writing scripts, I chose to make a guide for Final Draft 13, focusing on teaching users how to toggle between script elements and save their work.

Some of the required elements were:

• Screen recording
• Audio narration
• Run time between 90 – 150 seconds
• Visual markers

Challenge

The main tasks to be completed in this project include:

• Pre-production: The pre-production stage involved outlining the video’s structure in a storyboard, including both audio and visual components.
• Production: The production phase involved recording the audio narration and screen visuals using Camtasia.
• Post-production: In the final stage, the audio and visuals needed to be edited together. Additionally, visual markers–such as animations–were required to highlight key areas on the screen.

My Approach

Pre-Production

The first step in my process was creating a script and storyboard for the video. I wrote the script, reading it out loud multiple times to refine any wording that felt unnatural or confusing. Once I finalized the script, I outlined the visuals to ensure that the actions performed during the screen recording in Final Draft aligned seamlessly with the narration. With the storyboard complete, I was ready to move on to audio recording.

Production

Audio Recording

I chose to record the audio separately from the screen recording, which allowed me to focus on each element individually. This approach helped me stay relaxed and sound more natural. After practicing the script, I recorded my voiceover in Camtasia a few times to get it just right. One tip that made a noticeable difference was smiling while speaking—it added a positive tone to my voice that I felt enhanced the overall delivery.

Screen Recording

With the audio recorded, I used Camtasia to capture the visual component of the guide. I recorded several takes, including 2–3 full recordings that followed the full audio narration, as well as smaller clips for individual tasks. This method gave me flexibility in choosing the best footage during the editing process.

Post-Production

Editing the video was perhaps my favorite part of the project. I began by marking key points in the audio to indicate when specific tasks should appear on screen. Using these markers as a guide, I synced the screen recordings to match the narration in Camtasia.

Once the video and audio were aligned, I added animations to highlight important parts of the screen, ensuring the audience’s attention was directed to key details. After completing the animations, I reviewed the video several times to make sure everything felt polished and cohesive.