Working as a Video Editor

After moving, Oksana became a freelance video editor. Her success led to work in production and later to volunteering in a Ukrainian library.

First Experience with International Clients

After moving to Vienna and enrolling in university, I realized I needed a source of income to pay for my studies. That source became a freelancing platform, and my main activity was video editing since I already had experience creating a documentary film.

The hardest part after setting up my profile was finding the first client. My husband Rostyslav, who also worked on a similar platform and had built a flawless reputation, helped me a lot with this. He also guided me in learning the etiquette of communicating with international clients in English, supporting me step by step at the beginning.

Without any reviews at first, I jumped at the first available offer and treated it as a potential investment in building my profile. This was a collaboration with an agent at a very low hourly rate. The task was also challenging and had to be completed within a day. I had to edit a wedding video: the main video and a highlight reel. After 12 hours of work and a lot of nerves, I managed to finish the edits on time and received my first positive review.

Screenshot of Review 1

Screenshot of Review 2

Beginners often get lucky, and I was lucky to find my next client — a Swiss man who needed about 40 videos on the topic of children’s swimming. The fee was substantial, as was the workload. I found children of the right age who were good swimmers and shot the videos in Ukraine. I completed the shooting in Austria and again closed the project with an impeccable review.

Screenshot of Review 3

Transition from Online to Offline: Working in Austria

Afterward, I had various clients for whom I edited videos on topics ranging from birthdays and private travels to videos for startups. After working hundreds of hours and gaining experience, I decided to look for a job in Austria in the field of video production.

Fortunately, I was recommended to two production companies, and one of them gave me the chance to interview. There, I met the director, Sandra Thier, who hired me as a content creator intern. After the probation period, I was assigned to a project for DM — creating short highlight videos after weekly shows filmed in Vienna.

Photo from the Hipp Shoot

I also had the chance to help with videos for the shoe brand Deichmann, traveled to Poland for a project with Hipp, where our team created social media videos, and searched for amateur actors for commercial videos and documentaries.

Photo from the DM Shoot

In one of these films, even my husband Rostyslav appeared, playing the role of a woodcutter at Schönbrunn Palace. The film was called Men and Women Behind the Scenes of Schönbrunn, and Rostyslav’s face became the poster for the film, which was aired on Austria’s main TV channel ORF.

Screenshot of Documentary Announcement on ORF with Rostyslav on the Cover

Photo of Rostyslav During the Documentary Shoot

Overall, I was able to assist in editing many interesting videos, communicate with clients, and implement their feedback. I gained numerous skills, including a better understanding of Austrian clients and their needs.

With the company’s leadership change and the arrival of the new year, the DM project was closed, and I had to say goodbye to Diego5.

I transitioned to working at St. Barbara’s Church, where I had been volunteering since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, and continued developing the Ukrainian library I had founded in April 2022.

My portfolio during my time at D5 Production: