Reality/Doc Editor/Story Editor for Short-Form ...

Project Overview: We're producing a short-form dating series called Snailmate for Instagram Reels and TikTok. The concept: Two strangers in NYC exchange handwritten letters for 10 days without ever seeing each other's faces. No photos, no social media, no texting — just letters. Then they meet. We've filmed the entire thing documentary-style — interviews, letter writing, letter reading, raw reactions, self-shot diary cam footage, and the in-person date. Now we need an editor who can shape 10+ hours of footage into ~10 emotionally compelling episodes that work on social. This is a storytelling job first. We need someone who knows how to find the narrative in raw footage, build tension, earn emotional moments, and make an audience care about two people they've never met. If you've cut reality TV, documentary, or docu-series work, that's exactly what we're looking for. The difference: It needs to live on Instagram and TikTok. So you also need to understand pacing, hooks, and what makes someone stop scrolling. Deliverables: ~10 episodes, each 2-3 minutes Formatted for Instagram Reels / TikTok (9:16 vertical) Each episode needs: a strong hook, a narrative arc, and a cliffhanger Light text on screen as needed (social-native style, not flashy) Music selection and sound mixing The Footage: Documentary-style sit-down interviews (two cameras) Verité coverage of letter writing and reading Raw emotional reactions and confessionals Diary cam footage (selfie-style, shot by the participants) B-roll of apartments, NYC, hands writing The in-person date Total: approximately 10-15 hours across multiple shoot days What We're Looking For: Storytelling ability is non-negotiable. You know how to build a scene. You understand tension, release, pacing, and payoff. You can watch 2 hours of interview footage and find the 45 seconds that matter. You know when to cut and when to let a moment breathe. If you've worked on reality TV, documentary, or docu-series projects — that's the background we want. Social-native sensibility. You understand what works on Instagram and TikTok. Strong hooks. Punchy pacing. Text on screen that feels native, not cheap. You know how to make something feel cinematic and scroll-stopping at the same time. Tone. Warm. Earnest. Real. This isn't ironic or overproduced. Two real people are being vulnerable on camera. The edit needs to honor that while still being entertaining. Think: the heart of a good documentary, the pace of great social content. Speed and collaboration. Fast turnaround. Comfortable iterating based on feedback. We're a small team and we move quickly. Ideal Background: Reality TV (story producer, editor, or assistant editor) Documentary or docu-series Branded docu-style content Episodic digital series Bonus: You've adapted long-form storytelling for short-form social If your reel is all quick-cut montages and transitions with no narrative, this probably isn't the right fit. We need someone who can tell a story. Timeline: Project start: Immediately (this weekend, Feb 1-2) First episode delivered: Feb 4 (to go live Feb 5) Episodes delivered on rolling basis through Feb 13 Final episode (the date): Feb 13 (to go live Feb 14 — Valentine's Day) Note: We're still filming through Thursday Feb 6, so you'll be editing while we're still shooting. Footage will come in waves. Budget: $1,500 - $2,500 USD for the full project (7-8 episodes) Open to discussing rate structure — flat fee, per episode, or daily. Tell us what works for you. To Apply: Portfolio link — Show us something with story. Reality, documentary, docu-series, or narrative-driven branded content. We want to see how you build scenes and shape emotion, not just how you cut to a beat. Brief note — Why does this project interest you? What's your background with storytelling-driven editing? Availability — Confirm you can start this weekend and meet the timeline. Rate — Your preferred fee or structure. About Us: This project is produced by Escargot, a company helping people send meaningful cards and letters. Snailmate is an experiment in slow connection — what happens when you get to know how someone thinks before you know how they look. We're a small team. We care about craft. If you know how to make people feel something in under 3 minutes, we want to hear from you.