With respect to trailers, press junket clips, and a quippy Letterboxd review, nothing will pique my interest in a new film or TV project quite like a well-done fan edit. Most recently, a punchy, minute-long Creed edit, posted 10 years after the original movie’s release, managed to reignite my interest (and that of about 19 million others) in the film. The same attitude extends to musicians and content creators who weren’t previously on my radar. If I see an artistic supercut of you set to a chopped and screwed version of a Beyoncé classic or what have you, I’m far more invested in your success.
There’s a science behind this, says public relations expert Angelique Phipps. “It turns supporters into brand evangelists,” she says. “A single fan edit can shift public perception faster than a paid campaign. These fan communities generate so much content and conversation that their enthusiasm becomes part of the artist’s brand identity. When fans flood TikTok with edits tied to a song or era, they create cultural inevitability. It’s participation, not promotion.”
So why are entertainment establishments not regularly giving the fan editors who support them their flowers? Instead, their praise is usually limited to maybe a few hundred thousand Likes, a repost from their fave, and imitation attempts from the studios and music labels who’ve recognized the success of their art form as an advertising technique and want to replicate it in an official capacity. (See: Lionsgate and HBO, who’ve employed fan edit tactics to promote their projects on TikTok).
“We do see examples of marketers supporting fan activities and seeing them as valuable,” says Zoe Fraade-Blanar, an adjunct professor at NYU whose courses focus on fame in the digital age. “They are taking advantage of situations when fan edits of an older song have suddenly made it popular again, [by] releasing more edit-friendly bundles of music in a cappella or slowed-down versions, or TikTok-friendly vertical video.”
“What we don’t necessarily see is a lot of those materials being then incorporated into the fan object itself. Fan activities are still considered a separate audience from true consumers by many brands, albeit a valuable one.”
This is why we felt compelled to celebrate the creators behind some of the year’s greatest edits. The ones who’ve managed to take already great existing art and repackage it as something even more evocative and engaging. Their opinions range on whether they deserve monetary compensation for their efforts. (“It would be great if companies or studios took the time to notice us, to respond, or even to reach out,” shares editor Jaqueline Felix.) But at the heart of it all, these fans are out here creating for the pure love of the game, which, in a world in which people’s artistic pursuits are so often driven by capital gain, feels like something to cherish. Learn more about why they do what they do ahead.
@ShoshannaShapiroStan
- Name: Junella
- Age: 23
- Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
What inspired you to start making edits?
I’ve had TikTok for a while, and I’ve always been a little self-conscious about posting anything personal, so I never really pictured myself creating for the app. But I work in design, and I was craving a creative outlet that felt low-pressure and fun to help with my artist’s block.
I noticed my feed was constantly filled with edits, and I eventually was inspired to try it out. It’s become a space for me to create purely for the joy of it without worrying about how it performs. It’s more about expressing how I see something rather than how I want to be seen.
How long does it take you to make each video, and what’s your artistic method?
Each video has taken me no more than an hour to edit! I usually just get a sporadic moment of inspiration after I hear lyrics that remind me of a specific scene, or vice versa.
How much do you feel like you’re helping promote these projects?
Every now and then, I get messages saying my edit convinced someone to watch a show, which is really fun to hear. But my following is on the smaller side, so I don’t think I’m making a huge impact overall.
Do you feel like fan editors should be compensated? Why or why not?
If someone is being asked directly to make an edit to promote a media project, then it should absolutely be treated as work and they should be compensated. TikTok also allows creators to earn money once they reach a certain following. But if it’s just for fun, I don’t think compensation is necessary; it’s more about personal expression and enjoyment.
@Lorelaisslove
- Name: Allie
- Age: 15
How long does it take you to make each video, and what’s your artistic method?
It takes me about an hour to edit. My go-to signature editing style is motion blur, and honestly, it’s literally my best friend. It makes your edits SO much smoother.
What’s the key to making a good edit?
The key to making a good edit, in my opinion, would definitely be good quality clips, good coloring, and it would DEFINITELY have to be smooth. So again...motion blur will be your best friend!
How much do you feel like you’re helping promote these projects?
I don’t think that I’m helping promote any projects, because some of my edits don’t get as many views. However, I do think my Lorelai helped promote Gilmore Girls, and maybe some people started the show because of my edit? That’s what I like to believe.
Do you feel like fan editors should be compensated? Why or why not?
Honestly, yeah...especially if they’re helping to promote a film or a show—that’s my opinion though.
@Kid.kevv4
- Name: Kevin Akoto
- Age: 25
- Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
What inspired you to start making edits?
They just looked fun to make….It’s great to see where your creativity can take you. I compare doing edits to doing a puzzle—it’s interesting to create something out of multiple pieces of work and see them all fit into something else.
How long does it take you to make each video, and what’s your artistic method?
Every edit is different. Depending on what song you use, it could be quick, anywhere from 15 to 25 seconds—longer ones would usually be 30 seconds or longer….Most people who do edits try not to go over a minute to keep engagement and also avoid copyright violations if they’re using copyrighted music.
Favorite edit you’ve ever made?
Probably the Jalen Hurts x Hamilton edit. I think it did an amazing job telling his story about how he’s had to wait for his moment to be a Super Bowl champion.
Have any famous people/companies interacted with your edits?
I had a Milo Manheim comment on the Jalen Hurts edit….Who knows how many other famous people have come across an edit of mine that’s done well but didn’t comment?
Do you feel like fan editors should be compensated? Why or why not?
That depends. In a sense, we are making art, but most of the time, we’re using a lot of copyrighted material from studios and music artists. Also, most edits don’t usually hit the 1-minute mark for monetization on apps like TikTok. If there were a way for editors to receive a percentage of compensation while those with the copyrights also got their cut, I think that would be a decent compromise.
@P6uge
- Age: 16
How long does it take you to make each video?
My edits usually take a minimum of two days to complete. I like looking over them multiple times in different time spans to make sure it will look good for other people to watch, not just myself.
Favorite edit you’ve ever made?
My favorite edit also happens to be my most viral, with currently 1.2 million Likes. It’s my Bonrad (The Summer I Turned Pretty) edit to “Lover, You Should Come Over” by Jeff Buckley. It was so much fun to make. For this edit in particular, I had to work FAST. I tried to get my The Summer I Turned Pretty edits out the day after or even the day of the episode’s release. So rushing to create an edit that turned out so beautifully really made me proud of my process.
What’s the key to making a good edit?
Definitely having a good intro. I treat it like a “hook” in writing. People won’t stay to watch your edit if the opening isn’t interesting to them. My sister recently pointed out to me that the majority of my viral edits happen to have an intro at the beginning. I’ve seen some really poor edits do exceptionally well due to having an amazing intro, so it never hurts to have one!
Best music to make edits to?
The Hamilton soundtrack!! It is so much fun to edit any musical in general, but Hamilton edits really hit the spot.
How much do you feel like you’re helping promote these projects?
I hope I’m making a difference! I really love just reaching out to people in general. When one of my videos doesn’t do well, obviously, it’s such a letdown, but to those who do see them, they see something I’ve made myself. I struggle with finding things that I'm good at, so just to see literally two comments about how well I’m doing really makes a difference. I edit for the people, not the deals, so if I’m impacting popularity, that is awesome! I’ve had people comment before that my edits inspire them to watch a TV show/movie, and it genuinely feels so awesome that I’m reaching out in such a beautiful way. I LOVE film, so inspiring people to watch what I find so fascinating means the world.
Do you feel like fan editors should be compensated?
I edit for the people, not the deals. I haven’t made a single cent so far through my account. Generally, just hearing I’m making a difference and seeing comments flood into my inbox saying that “this is amazing!” or “this is THE ___ edit” makes up for the lost compensation. If other editors care deeply about money-making, then of course they should be paid.
@Footnote___
Name: Jacqueline Felix
Age: 23
What inspired you to start making edits?
I first started as a way to escape reality, but it also came from my free time during university. Over time, I realized that many songs, lyrics, or monologues perfectly reflect the story of certain characters or relationships on TV shows—at least from my perspective. That musical connection helps you understand the plot more deeply and feel closer to the characters.
When a song aligns with a character’s story or with your own experiences, it becomes much easier to empathize with them. I’ve always thought great characters—whether from a book or onscreen—are meant to connect with people, especially when they’re complex.
What does your process look like?
Before picking scenes or dialogue (if any), I always start with the song, because it defines the vision of what I want to express. The editing itself doesn’t take that long, but color grading and fine details are just as important. Altogether, each edit takes about five hours—and when it’s a more complex one, I divide the work over two days.
Best music to make edits to?
I absolutely love using Taylor Swift’s music. She has such a wide range of material, genres, and lyrics that often feel straight out of a fantasy story—and sometimes they really are. That’s exactly how a TV character or couple feels. Her songs click instantly with almost any edit; they fit together like the perfect pieces of a puzzle.
How much do you feel like you’re helping promote these projects?
I’ve received hundreds of comments from people saying they’ll give a certain reality show, series, or set of characters a chance after seeing my edits. Many of them say things like, “It’s so interesting to understand the plot through an edit; I’m going to watch it,” or “An edit finally convinced me to watch a bad reality show.”
Do you think fan editors should be compensated? Why or why not?
I’ve honestly never given it much thought, because for me it’s just a hobby. I studied film, and one of my focuses it’s editing—but that is editing my own material, which of course deserves compensation. In this case, it’s different because I’m not working with content that’s mine. Lately, I’ve noticed companies like HBO creating their own edits for TikTok—and that’s great, because it’s their material and their editors (hopefully) get paid fairly.
For independent creators, it’s more complicated. It is work, and it’s a long process, but at the end of the day, you’re working with something that doesn’t belong to you—you just feel drawn or connected to it. So I’d say I’m 50-50 on that. Maybe not direct payment but definitely more visibility. It would be great if companies or studios took the time to notice us, to respond, or even to reach out. There are so many small creators online with incredible potential who deserve more recognition.
