Editor / Documentary Collaborator

I’m looking for a smart, collaborative editor to help shape a behind-the-scenes documentary/featurette about my daughter’s senior thesis short film production.

The material:

* ~2.5 hrs of 4K Sony FX3 footage

* interviews with cast, crew, producers, and director

* vérité/BTS set footage

* hundreds of BTS stills

Target runtime:approximately 15–25 mins.

This is not a “behind the scenes hype reel.” I’m aiming for something more cinematic, thoughtful, funny/human where appropriate, and genuinely process-oriented — a portrait of young artists trying to make something real under actual production conditions.

Technical notes:Audio is a bit of an adventure:

* camera-mounted shotgun

* wireless lavs

* occasional split-channel chaos

So strong organizational and dialogue/audio editing skills matter.

Workflow matters too:I use Final Cut Pro, so FCP workflow compatibility is preferred. I want the project fully organized and transparent throughout:

* labeled media

* synced timelines

* clean project structure

* incremental saves/backups

I’d like the ability to review, jump into the timeline if necessary, or take over the project in an emergency without needing an archaeological team.

Creative control ultimately stays with me, but I’m looking for a real collaborator — someone with documentary instincts, taste, rhythm, emotional intelligence, and ideally a sense of humor about the absurdity of filmmaking.

Budget:Low-budget but serious project.Approx. $1,000-$1,500 max total.

NYC-based preferred.

There may also be opportunities for additional paid editorial work beyond the initial featurette/doc cut, including:

* EPK/promotional edits

* social media cutdowns

* teaser/trailer material

* archival/festival assets

Those would be discussed separately and are not assumed within the initial scope/budget.

Please send:

* samples/reel (documentary/interview/process-oriented work preferred)

* editing platform

* brief workflow overview

* availability/rates

Bonus points if you’ve worked in academic arts environments, indie film, or know how to make people look brilliant without making everything look like a perfume commercial.

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