Category: Career / Industry Trends

Open Reddit. "The industry is dead." Open Twitter/X. "I haven't worked in 6 months." Open LinkedIn. "#OpenToWork."

If you live online, you would think the profession of Video Editing has ceased to exist. But it hasn't. The Hollywood model is struggling, yes. But while the Union editors are waiting for the phone to ring, there is a whole other class of editors who are quietly having their best year ever.

They aren't posting about it because they are too busy working.

Here is a "Highlight Reel" of the niches that are thriving right now, and why you should consider joining them.

Win #1: The Wedding & Event "Gold Rush"

You might roll your eyes at wedding videos. "I didn't go to film school to edit brides." But guess what? People are still getting married. Rich families are still throwing Bat Mitzvahs.

• The Reality: A high-end wedding editor can charge $1,500 - $3,000 per edit. The work is consistent, the clients pay upfront, and there are no strikes.

• The Pivot: If you have narrative storytelling skills, you are overqualified for this market. You can dominate it by offering "Cinematic Documentary" style cuts instead of the cheesy montages of 2010.

Win #2: The "Boring" Corporate Retainer

While ad agencies are fighting over Super Bowl spots, thousands of boring B2B companies need content.

• The Need: Internal training videos, CEO updates, Zoom conference sizzle reels, and LinkedIn thought-leadership clips.

• The Win: These companies prefer Retainers. Instead of chasing gigs, you sign a contract for $4,000/month to deliver 4 videos. It’s boring, but it pays the rent every single month without fail.

Win #3: The YouTube "Pro" Tier

We are past the era of "kids in basements." The Creator Economy is now the Media Economy.

• The Reality: Channels with 1M+ subscribers operate like mini TV networks. They have deadlines, servers, and budgets.

• The Win: They are desperate for Reliability. They are tired of hiring fans who flake out. They want a grumpy, 40-year-old professional who knows what a codec is and hits the deadline every time.

• The Niche: Look for "Edu-tainment" channels (History, Science, Finance). They respect research and pacing, and they pay pro rates.

Summary

The "Industry" isn't collapsing; it's moving. The prestige work (TV/Film) is shrinking, but the volume of video content being produced globally is higher than ever. Stop looking for validation from IMDb credits. Look for validation in your bank account. Pivot to where the money is flowing, and you won't just survive 2026—you'll thrive.