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Horror Films Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Editor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$250 - $350/day

Role Overview We're looking for Editors to help assemble original series and films across a wide ... fi, horror, romance, kids & family, and more. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys ...

... films constantly. No development purgatory. Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers ... fi, horror, romance, kids & family, and more. We're looking for artists who are excited by ...

Horror Films information

See California salary details

$10.8K

$72.8K

$134.6K

How much do horror films jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for horror films in California is $72,769.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31,824.00 and $99,881.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Horror Film Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Horror Film Director, you need a solid background in filmmaking, storytelling, and a deep understanding of the horror genre, often supported by a degree in film or related experience. Mastery of industry-standard editing software, camera equipment, and special effects tools is typically required. Creativity, leadership, and the ability to collaborate are crucial soft skills for bringing chilling stories to life and managing diverse production teams. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering compelling, suspenseful films that engage audiences and perform well both critically and commercially.

What are horror films?

Horror films are a genre of movies designed to frighten, scare, or shock viewers by invoking their worst fears, often through suspense, violence, or supernatural elements. These films typically feature themes such as monsters, ghosts, serial killers, or psychological terror. The goal of horror films is to create an intense emotional experience and provoke reactions like fear, dread, or anxiety. Over the years, the genre has evolved to include numerous subgenres, including slasher, psychological horror, supernatural horror, and more. Horror films are popular for their ability to provide thrilling entertainment and explore the darker aspects of human nature.

What is the difference between Horror Films vs Screenwriters?

AspectHorror FilmsScreenwriters
Required CredentialsFilm production knowledge, storytelling skillsWriting skills, storytelling, often a degree in writing or film
Work EnvironmentFilm sets, studios, post-productionOffices, home studios, collaborative meetings
Industry UsageCreated by directors, producers, writersDevelop scripts for films, TV, media
Common Search/ComparisonPeople interested in horror genre creationPeople interested in writing for films

Horror Films are the end product of a creative process involving many roles, including screenwriters. Screenwriters craft the scripts that horror films are based on. While horror films focus on the visual and emotional impact, screenwriters concentrate on storytelling and script development. Understanding the difference helps clarify career paths and industry roles in horror media production.

What are some common challenges faced when working on a horror film production team?

Working on a horror film production often involves unique challenges such as creating convincing special effects on a limited budget, maintaining a tense and immersive atmosphere on set, and ensuring the safety of cast and crew during complex stunts or scenes involving prosthetics and practical effects. Team members frequently collaborate closely across departments—special effects, makeup, lighting, and sound—to achieve the desired scares while keeping production efficient. Adaptability and strong communication skills are essential, as last-minute script or scene changes are common to enhance suspense or address audience feedback during test screenings.
Infographic showing various Horror Films job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 2% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,769 per year, or $35 per hour.

Editor

TrueShort

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

$250 - $350/day

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Editor
About TrueShort
TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the United States. An AI studio and streaming platform where we experiment, develop and release original series and films constantly. No development purgatory.
Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers premium, bingeable storytelling across an expanding slate of genres, reimagining how modern audiences discover and experience great stories.
Our team is experimenting at the frontier of AI-powered entertainment production across animation, live action, and emerging storytelling formats.
Backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg (Founder of DreamWorks), Scott Belsky, Ravi Nandan (A24), Khosla Ventures, and others.
Role Overview
We're looking for Editors to help assemble original series and films across a wide range of genres and formats.
Editors at TrueShort play a critical role in shaping pacing, emotion, clarity, and continuity across our productions. You'll work with AI-generated visuals, narration, music, sound design, and motion assets to help transform raw creative material into polished episodes and short-form content.
Projects may include animation, cinematic storytelling, experimental formats, comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, romance, kids & family, and more. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys storytelling, editing, internet-native pacing, and working inside fast-moving creative workflows.
Responsibilities
  • Edit short-form episodes and visual content using AI-generated footage and assets
  • Assemble visual sequences from scripts, storyboards, and shot lists
  • Shape pacing, timing, emotion, and narrative clarity
  • Integrate narration, music, sound effects, and dialogue
  • Add subtitles, titles, and basic motion graphics when needed
  • Maintain visual and storytelling consistency across projects
  • Collaborate closely with AI filmmakers, editors, and showrunners
  • Organize project files and prepare final exports for distribution
  • Help refine and improve evolving post-production workflows

Preferred Skills & Experience
  • Strong experience with Adobe Premiere Pro and/or DaVinci Resolve
  • Experience editing narrative, animated, or short-form content
  • Comfortable organizing large volumes of footage and visual assets
  • Familiarity with Frame.io or collaborative review pipelines is a plus
  • Understanding of AI audio and voice tools (ElevenLabs, Suno, etc.) is a plus
  • Experience with AI video workflows and generation tools (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway, etc.) is a plus
  • Familiarity with motion graphics or cleanup workflows is a plus

Compensation & Details
  • Contract Role
  • $250-$350 per day
  • Potential for long-term employment or full-time role
  • Los Angeles preferred (hybrid/in-person encouraged)