THE ROLE

Sleepline is a YouTube channel covering sleep science, mattress industry analysis, and cultural history of sleep. We're looking for a video editor who specializes in essay-style content, the kind you'd see on channels like Wendover Productions, Polymatter, Johnny Harris, or Knowing Better. This is not a standard product review editing gig. Essay content requires a fundamentally different editing approach: pacing narrative arcs, integrating custom graphics, building visual storytelling out of narration and B-roll, and maintaining viewer engagement across 13 to 20 minute runtimes without a product on screen to cut to.

What You'd Be Editing

Long-form video essays (13 to 20 minutes) on topics like the cultural history of sleep, the economics of the mattress industry, sleep science, and related subjects. These videos feature a single presenter on camera with narration-driven storytelling supported by custom graphics, historical imagery, diagrams, maps, archival material, and text on screen. The tone is sardonic, smart, and accessible. Think edutainment, not documentary.

What We Need

Pacing for retention. You understand that a 15-minute essay lives or dies on its pacing. You know where to speed up, where to let a beat breathe, where to drop a graphic, and where a cut to B-roll saves a section from losing the viewer. You've watched the retention graphs on your own work and you know what causes the dips.

Graphics integration. We provide custom-generated graphics (diagrams, timelines, illustrations, maps) and you need to integrate them into the edit in a way that feels natural. They should appear when the narration references them, stay on screen long enough to be read, and transition smoothly back to the presenter. Motion graphics experience is a strong plus. If you can animate a timeline or add subtle movement to a static graphic, that's a differentiator.

Text on screen. Key terms, dates, names, and pull quotes need to appear on screen at the right moments to reinforce what the narrator is saying. Clean, minimal, readable at phone size. No cluttered lower thirds. No flashy transitions. Think Wendover, not cable news.

Sound design. Music selection that supports the narrative without overpowering it. Knowing when to bring music in, when to pull it out, when to let a moment land in relative silence. Sound effects used sparingly and intentionally, not as a crutch.

Color grading. Our set uses warm lighting with a deep green background. You'd need to maintain a consistent, cinematic grade that matches the tone of the content. Warm, slightly moody, not flat and not oversaturated.

Qualifications

Portfolio that includes long-form essay or documentary style content (not just vlogs, gaming, or short-form). Experience editing for YouTube specifically, meaning you understand retention, pacing for the platform, and how editing choices affect audience behavior. Proficiency in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. After Effects or Motion experience is a plus for graphics work. Ability to work independently from a script and rough cut, making editorial decisions about pacing and visual storytelling without needing shot-by-shot direction. Reliable turnaround times and clear communication about timelines.

DELIVERABLES

2 to 4 essay videos per month, each 13 to 20 minutes final runtime. We provide: filmed A-roll with teleprompter delivery, custom graphics and diagrams, B-roll and archival material guidance, and a detailed script with production notes including graphic drop points, delivery notes, and retention beat markers. You deliver: a rough cut for review, revisions based on feedback, and a final export ready for upload.

Compensation

Per-video rate, negotiable based on experience and portfolio quality. Please include your rate in your application along with 2 to 3 examples of essay or documentary style work you've edited.

How To Apply

Send your CV, portfolio link and per-video rate to jps@majormeadow. Include a brief note on which YouTube essay channels you watch and what you think they do well editorially. We're looking for someone who understands this format because they're a fan of it, not just someone who can technically execute it.

Video Editor – Remote Contract

Freelance Video Editor – YouTube

VIDEO ESSAY EDITOR

Freelancer / Contract (Acoustics Ecology)