Short-Form Video Editor for Entrepreneur / Music Industry Personal Brand

About the Role

I’m an entrepreneur based in Shanghai, China, where I run businesses in the live entertainment, international artist touring, and China social media industries.

I’m currently building out my personal social media brand and am looking for a talented short-form video editor who I can potentially work with on a long-term basis.

My content will focus around:

China · Music Industry · Entrepreneurship · Culture · Lifestyle

Content will include talking-head videos, storytelling, behind-the-scenes footage, concerts, travel, Shanghai lifestyle, business insights and occasional cinematic/voiceover content.

The goal is to create content that feels authentic, sharp, modern and premium — without looking overly produced or corporate.

What I'm Looking For

I’m looking for an editor who understands modern short-form content and, more importantly, has good creative judgment and taste.

You should understand:

Strong hooks within the first 1–3 seconds

Short-form storytelling and structure

Cutting unnecessary pauses/dead space

Pacing and viewer retention

Clean, modern subtitles/captions

B-roll selection and placement

Punch-ins, reframing and movement

Music and sound design when appropriate

How to make talking-head content visually engaging

Instagram Reels / TikTok-style editing

I don't want someone who simply takes instructions and cuts clips together.

I want an editor who can look at the raw material and think:

“How can I make this story better?”

Editing Style

Think:

Modern · Clean · Credible · Cool · Music / Culture / Entrepreneur

NOT:

Generic motivational influencer content

Excessive transitions

Meme overload

Random stock footage

Unnecessary sound effects

Huge captions covering half the screen

Over-edited content that feels fake

The personality and story should remain the focus.

Platforms

Content will primarily be created for:

Instagram Reels

TikTok-style vertical video

Xiaohongshu / Rednote

Douyin

Occasionally LinkedIn

You do NOT need Chinese-language editing experience. My China team can handle Chinese localization when necessary.

Video Format

Most videos will be:

9:16 vertical format

Usually around:

30–90 seconds

Depending on the story.

I will provide raw footage and, when available, supporting photos, videos and B-roll.

You may occasionally need to source appropriate additional B-roll yourself.

Paid Test

I want to start by giving selected candidates one paid test video.

I will provide the same raw footage and brief.

The purpose of the test is to evaluate:

Editing ability

Storytelling

Creative judgment

Taste

Captions

Pacing

B-roll

Overall feel

If I like the result and we work well together, I would like to move into an ongoing monthly arrangement.

Ongoing Work

Expected volume:

Approximately 8–10 short-form videos per month

This can potentially grow as the personal brand grows.

I’m looking for someone who would like to develop an ongoing working relationship rather than someone interested in doing only one project.

To Apply

Please send me:

A short introduction about yourself

Links to your 3 best short-form edits

Examples of talking-head / entrepreneur / personal-brand content if you have them

Your typical turnaround time for one 30–90 second video

Your proposed monthly rate for approximately 8–10 edits per month

What editing software you primarily use

Your availability and current workload

Please start your application with the words:

“SHANGHAI EDITOR”

So I know you actually read the full job description.

Important

Please do not send me 20 portfolio links.

Send me the 3 pieces of work you think best demonstrate your editing style and creative judgment.