Long-Form Documentary Video Editor (Interview + B-Roll) | Ongoing Work

About the Role I’m looking for a story-driven video editor with documentary storytelling experience—not someone who simply assembles clips. The primary project involves reviewing approximately 45 minutes of interview footage and you will have access to around 2 to 3 hours of B-roll footage to craft a compelling long-form video based on a creative brief and editorial guidelines. There is no word-for-word script. Instead, the interview forms the foundation of the story. You’ll be responsible for identifying the strongest moments, shaping the narrative, and using B-roll intentionally to support the message. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys finding the story within raw footage and creating edits that feel natural, engaging and emotionally impactful. This begins with one test project and if successful will expand into other projects. ⸻ Initial Project Goal Produce a polished long-form documentary-style video from approximately 45 minutes of interview footage and 2-3 hours of b-roll footage, your brief will include: * Primary interview footage * Supporting B-roll * Creative brief * Brand and editorial guidelines You will be responsible for: * Reviewing and logging the footage * Identifying the strongest interview moments * Building a logical and engaging narrative * Using B-roll purposefully to reinforce key messages * Creating pacing that keeps viewers engaged * Delivering a polished edit with professional audio, transitions, adding a color scheme that sets the tone and graphics where appropriate This is a storytelling project, not simply an assembly edit. ⸻ What I’m Looking For You should: * Think like a storyteller first and an editor second * Be comfortable making creative decisions from raw footage * Understand documentary and interview-driven editing * Know how to build emotional flow and pacing * Use B-roll intentionally rather than filling space * Be organised and able to manage large projects independently * Communicate clearly and proactively throughout the project * Care about delivering the strongest possible story, not simply completing the edit ⸻ Required Experience Please only apply if you have experience editing: * Documentary films * Interview-based content * Branded documentaries * Emotional storytelling * Long-form YouTube documentaries * Speaker or keynote content ⸻ Tools Experience with the following is preferred: * Adobe Premiere Pro or Adobe After Effects * Adobe Photoshop * Google Drive * frame.io * JIRA ⸻ Long-Term Opportunity Following this project, there is ongoing work available including: * Additional long-form documentaries * Social media shorts * Speaker content * Promotional videos * Brand storytelling projects There is already a substantial library of footage available, with more content being produced regularly. ⸻ Important Notes * All communication must remain within Upwork * Requests to communicate outside Upwork before a contract is in place will not be accepted ⸻ To Apply Please include: 1. Two or three examples of documentary, interview-based or story-driven edits. 2. A short explanation of your editing process when no script is provided and you need to build the story from interviews. 3. Your availability over the next four weeks. 4. Your preferred hourly rate or fixed-price estimate for a project involving approximately 10 hours of raw footage. Applications without relevant portfolio examples will not be considered.