Scriptwriter for True Crime Channel | Samuel Hylton
Dr Insanity is looking for an experienced scriptwriter to turn real criminal cases into compelling long-form documentaries.
Our videos combine police footage, interrogation recordings and narration to tell complex stories clearly. We’re looking for a writer who can take a case from source material to a complete script that our production team can bring to life.
What you’ll do
• Build clear story outlines with strong openings, logical progression, tension and satisfying payoffs.
• Write natural English voice-over that adds context and connects the footage without repeating what viewers can already see.
• Work with research, transcripts and source footage to identify the moments that carry the story. Build rough video drafts in Adobe Premiere Pro to test the script, footage sequence and pacing before handing over to editors.
• Include clear footage references, timecodes where available, and visual notes so editors understand the intended sequence.
• Check claims against sources, flag gaps or conflicting accounts, and distinguish established facts from allegations.
• Take scripts through feedback and revisions with our creative director and team leads.
• Communicate progress, keep source references organized, and deliver reliably so editors have complete scripts to work from.
Who we’re looking for
• A strong portfolio of completed scripts for documentary, factual television, narrative YouTube, podcasts or comparable storytelling work.
• Excellent written English and a good ear for spoken narration. Practical Adobe Premiere Pro experience is required: you must be able to assemble organized rough cuts from your scripts and source footage.
• Strong judgment about structure, pacing, tension and clarity, with the ability to simplify a complex case without distorting it.
• The ability to take ownership of a full script, not only gather research or write isolated sections.
• Someone who can study Dr Insanity’s videos, understand the format, and adapt their writing to new cases.
• A proactive communicator who improves work through detailed feedback and can meet agreed deadlines.
• Availability for consistent, long-term work and regular overlap with our remote production team.
• Comfort working with sensitive and sometimes graphic true-crime material, with care for accuracy and the people involved.
Traditional documentary and television writers are welcome. YouTube or true-crime experience is valuable, but strong storytelling and the ability to adapt matter more.
How we work
We’re fully remote and collaborative. You’ll work closely with team leads, researchers and editors, with regular communication in Discord and detailed script reviews. The goal is a clear, production-ready script that gives editors a strong story to build around.
How to apply
Please include 2–3 relevant writing samples, links to finished videos or episodes where available, and a short explanation of exactly what you wrote. Tell us your availability, time zone, typical turnaround for a full script, and expected rate for an ongoing commitment. Confidential client work should only be shared with permission.