Narrative Video Caption Writer (English, Dialogue & Emotion, Scene Understanding)

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. We connect people to projects where they can learn, grow, and help shape how modern AI systems behave.

  • Free to join and designed for people starting or growing careers teaching AI
  • Projects range from transcription and captioning to RLHF and content review

Why AI training matters

AI training (data labeling/annotation) is the human work that teaches AI how to understand the world. Contributors do hands-on tasks—like writing captions and describing scenes—that directly influence how models interpret video, audio, and text.

This work is mostly remote, flexible, and accessible: many projects need strong language skills and attention to detail rather than prior technical degrees.

  • Flexible, part-time contractor roles you can do from home
  • Entry and intermediate tracks exist; specialist experience can unlock higher pay

The role

We’re hiring Narrative Video Caption Writers to create single, scene-focused captions (50–250 words) for short video clips that support scene understanding, accessibility, and metadata.

This is contract, part-time work with a minimum expectation of 20+ hours per week. Candidates must be USA-based native English speakers and have reliable internet for streaming.

  • Captioner rate: $25.75/hr
  • Senior QC rate: $33.00/hr
  • Employment: Contractor, Part-time

What you'll do

For each clip you will produce one clear, factual caption that helps a viewer understand setting, characters, actions, and emotion without speculation.

An initial calibration phase tests accuracy and style; after calibration you move into ongoing production or QC work depending on track.

  • Establish setting and background audio in the caption
  • Describe key characters, actions/interactions, and overall emotions
  • Include pertinent on-screen dialogue (as presented) and identify clearly recognizable public figures or brands when visible
  • Avoid naming shows/movies, speculating beyond on-screen content, or over-describing irrelevant background characters

Requirements

You must be a native English speaker based in the USA with reliable internet for streaming video.

Prior hands-on experience is required in at least one of the following fields: audio description (DVS), closed captioning/subtitling (SDH), narrative/creative writing, journalism/editorial writing, or script coverage/story analysis for film/TV.

  • Follow detailed style guides and maintain strict factual discipline—no AI-assisted writing or machine translation
  • Produce clean, native-English prose suitable for accessibility and scene understanding
  • Minimum commitment: 20+ hours per week

Senior QC — additional expectations

The Senior QC track is for experienced editors and caption QA specialists who provide precise written feedback and enforce style across teams.

Senior QCs resolve edge cases against a rubric, enforce consistency, and mentor captioners through constructive notes.

  • 2+ years in editorial QA, copyediting, or caption QA required
  • Demonstrated style-guide/rubric enforcement and ability to give constructive writer feedback
  • Experience resolving edge cases and maintaining style consistency
Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...