i plan on starting to do some freelance video editing works for youtube, but i'm feeling like i'm lacking creativity to make something meaningful that could sell my skills to someone, something more than to just download some free stock footage and put them together. how can i build a strong, consistent portfolio for video editing?
what i've been doing for the past few weeks is making my own illustrations and animating them on after effects, but that's more about creating the footage than to make an already existing footage look interesting, and if i wanna get into video editing, i'd need to specialize myself on the latter

should i announce my services in one of those freelance platforms like workana? or should i just go to a slightly famous youtuber DMs and ask something like "hey do u need an editor?"

also, is freelance video editing really a good field to make some money? i heard that video editing for youtube is on high demand, and now that youtube is demonetizing low quality AIslop content, it seems that the demand will be even higher, and being the GD field i like the most, it seems like the best bet.

actually i don't even know if this is the right board to ask this since there are discussions about whether video editing is part of graphic design or not. i see them as pretty similar but idk what's this board's view on it.

>>460988 (OP)
>slightly famous youtuber DMs and ask
DMs get spamed all the time and no one checks them, is better to reply to people who are looking for editors within 24hrs of their post, just search on the main social media platforms: fb, discord, reddit, x, instagram, on the reddit link below you can see dozens of people asking for editors within the last couple of days.
>how can i build a strong, consistent portfolio for video editing?
You don't need a portfolio, anyone who can edit like the guy in the x link below can get a job, you just need to be fast, consistent, professional with the deadlines, have contracts and emails prepared and maybe at the beginning try to over-deliver for a while, some things that you could offer that would put you above 99% of other people are; a quick video introduction of who you are and your setup if you have a good one, a quick list of some subscriptions services you own (they love Storyblocks and if you can pull off 3D), don't just edit like everyone try to add your touch like with some comedy or relevant memes (they would love you if you are up to day with current tiktok memes etc) or if you can do basic animation like internet historian, one advice from a guy that end up in hollywood films is that you could also offer very different alternatives for them to choose from not just one style.
>https://www.reddit.com/search/?q=hiring+video+editor
>https://x.com/Blindvfx123

>>460988 (OP)
https://hayden-hillier-smith.mykajabi.com/edit-like-an-artist
Also I recently followed this course is pretty good and you can find it on 1337x, even just by copying the trailer editing you could learn a ton and you will get hired instantly.

>>460992
>You don't need a portfolio, anyone who can edit like the guy in the x link below can get a job,
but his X profile works as a portfolio doesn't it?

>>461025
kind of but the only ones who care about portfolios are companies youtubers are too lazy

>>460992
>don't just edit like everyone try to add your touch

One way to do this so there's actually some point of reference when people assess it is to work with/from existing material and styles in a way where what you add and your skill in doing it is in obvious contrast to what people expect.

2D static designers and illustrators and photographers will.often do something like recreate an existing design like a dollar bill or a famous scene, but make drastic changes that turn it into something else and display their skills in the process.
Music producers can do the same with mashups and remixes, or covering existing songs with wildly different arrangments that only a truly skilled creator could do.
With video you might re-edit something like old newsreel footage or animation everyone recognizes in a way that is engaging and shows off your skills, or make a documentary short that is quirky and or funny and makes people want to keep watching it and want
more, after which they will know that you have the skills necessary to make that kind of content.
Don't copy anyone's style, but if you can put a twist on an existing recognizable style and make it something new and interesting that's a good thing. Don't mock those styles or their creators (maybe a potential client loves them), but have fun imagining variations on their work/style that otgers might be drawn to.

>>461027
>re-edit something like old newsreel footage or animation everyone recognizes in a way that is engaging and shows off your skills,
isn't this "dangerous" due to copyright shenanigans? i mean yea there's a lot of old footage that can be used but even then, wouldn't i get in trouble by using old footage/animations?

>>461031
Not if it's public domain or...wait for it...you get permission to use content that isn't PD for free, or pay a license fee to use...

A lot of government agency stuff is copyright free too since it's publicly funded-

>NASA content – images, audio, video, and media files used in the rendition of 3-dimensional models, such as texture maps and polygon data in any format – generally are not subject to copyright in the United States. You may use this material for educational or informational purposes, including photo collections, textbooks, public exhibits, computer graphical simulations and Internet Web pages. This general permission extends to personal Web pages.

https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/

>>461032
Also-

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_in_the_public_domain_in_the_United_States

I’m also thinking about doing this as a side hustle, can OP or anyone else give me an idea of how much it typically pays to be a YT editor?

>>461035
The range is wild, it depends of lots of things like your negotiating skills, how fast you are and how involved you want to be. On the low-end you can find people paying or charging $10 for a 30 second vertical edit, if you can automate it or outsource it and take multiple clients is worth it. For medium and big youtubers the editors can easily earn 6 figures but is almost a full time job, You can earn way more if you end up managing the youtube channel(s) and adsense accounts and start setting up affiliate links, sponsors, merch, patreon etc. If you're not interested in that stuff you can also find people who offer around $500 per 1~2 hour video in the long-format documentary style, they usually provide narration and stock footage.

>>461032
>>461033
So can I just torrent all that stuff and use as footage without getting sued? As for adding my own touch, what would you suggest suggest to do? Changing the tone of a well-known scene? I'll watch that masterclass you mentioned here >>460993 when I get home, maybe I'll start by just making that trailer as you said, this'll probably help me think about what else to do.
Thank you for all the advice so far and for taking the time to reply in detail

>>461039
Those are different people you're replying to. Also if you're using premade stuff just make sure there's a .txt license and read what you're allowed to do before using anything, some clients will ask for that stuff so is better to be prepared in case someone claims your video or now that they're even claiming thumbnails. Here's a list with resources, and recently a massive collection of free sounds was released by the BBC they're high quality and super useful:

>https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/
>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sFHNQKJ3H81nXiSPqslYurquBFJrU-X9qor14uXBueo/edit?gid=0#gid=0

>As for adding my own touch, what would you suggest suggest to do?
Do something you know or like, for example some people that edit GTA videos add small clips with viral rappers face reactions before or after a scene, some people who like horror or photography get into color grading, some people add stick figures or mspaint doodles, some add lots of anime stuff, some do a lot of 3d shots like Fern etc.
For learning about films check the videos of this channel https://youtube.com/@TheHouseofTabula