Ready for your next binge-worthy account to scroll on Instagram?
We know you’re bored, scanning social media every 10 minutes for something funny, inspirational, or just new since the last time you checked the feed. Nothing yet has piqued your varied tastes today.
All you’re after is a laugh. Then you wonder: what goes into creating something that actually stands out?
As a 32-year-old editor extraordinaire that grew up in Chino Hills, CA, Marque Cox, a.k.a. @shrimpdaddy, knows all the tricks to the Insta-edit trade and has your answer. Creator of Active Ride Shop’s first full-length skate video, “Where is It,” Cox began sharpening his skills in the traditional ways of editing but has since adapted to the digital landscape of today in order to stand out under his new identity, @shrimpdaddy.
You may remember his “Leticia Bufoni Forest Gump” edit of her sliding around the world, or maybe his “Nike Matrix” bit that showed us just how easily controlled we really are—regardless of which edit you remember, it likely stands out in your mind.
That’s because Shrimpdaddy has style. He also has a formula for his art. Simply put, he has a process, and you can have one, too. If you are looking for insights, edit tips from the master himself and a little understanding of who he is, read on.
Dew Tour: For anyone that may not be familiar with you, who is Shrimpdaddy?
Shrimpdaddy: My name is Marque Cox, I am a video creator and my Instagram account is @shrimpdaddy. The “shrimpdaddy” name was just a name that wasn’t taken on IG yet. At the time, it was my fake Instagram account and I was just looking for a funny name for about 45 minutes until I landed on shrimpdaddy. Nothing really to do with shrimp. It is just a funny name that I felt would stand out.
I call my videos “memes” now because that’s what everyone called them, but in my head, a meme is a funny picture with text above it. The videos I make are basically weird videos that make people laugh. Most people don’t realize how long it takes to make some of these dumb videos. I started cutting people out of the videos and making them fly, slide, or fall in different ways. Skateboard videos work perfectly for these types of edits.
The first video I made that blew up on IG was the “Leticia Bufoni Forrest Gump” edit. It was my first edit that got posted by TransWorld in 2016. After making a couple more of those videos, I started getting a little bit of a following on Instagram. However, I made the ultimate cut out video in 2017 of people flying. I then hit a wall and realized I can’t keep making the same old stuff. As a result, I’m always trying to figure out how to reinvent myself.
What are the qualities that make for an ideal @shrimpdaddy edit? When did you realize your style was starting to get recognized?
Every edit is different. Some take 20 minutes to make, and some take three days to make. Due to most people’s short attention spans, I’ve been doing short and sweet edits. Music, timing, transitions with sound effects and sound design. I’m just listing everything in a video, haha. Well, if you mix all of that together with a good concept, then you get a solid @shirmpdaddy edit. Half of the time, I don’t know what I’m doing and it kind of just ends up working out. I guess this is my art or formula.
I figured out that I was a good editor in 2015 when I got my first TV editing job at Pop TV. It was the first time I was working with other editors and got to see how long it took them to make stuff and what they were coming up with. You never really know the process of editors because you usually just see the end product.
What are your top three personal favorite edits, what about each edit makes it memorable for you?
Shrimpdaddy 3 is my favorite because it was filmed and edited by me. I made it for RedBull in 2016, and I was surprised they let me call it Shrimpdaddy 3. When I have full control, my style of video is totally different from my meme style edits. I think Shrimpdaddy 3 is basically the real me, but no one cares about professional work. The average person would rather hear a fart joke. My meme edits are definitely made for the average person that laughs at the dumbest shit.
Also, the R. Kelly Audition on The Voice edit is the big YouTube hit I made back in 2016. It is now at almost 18 million views! It’s R. Kelly singing the same note of “I believe I can fly” for 10 minutes and getting reactions from the voice judges.
Nike Matrix is a video comparing Nike to The Matrix. Sometimes, I like to have a story or a message in my edits and this one had one of the strongest messages. Someone that worked at Nike saw me at a bar and told me that he went into a big Nike meeting and this video was on the big screen and they weren’t very happy about it.
Can you give a few tips to those stuck at home right now trying to make interesting edits from already stacked clips?
I’ve been seeing a lot of fun edits from people I follow that usually don’t edit videos and it’s cool to see people making creative stuff with this free time we have at home right now.
In my opinion, a good tip would be, once you are done with your edit, watch it 20 times and make sure there isn’t one second where you get bored watching it.
Don’t get attached to clips that aren’t important in the edit. You have one minute on Instagram to make the viewer pay attention. Put yourself in the viewer’s shoes and critique yourself, question your edit, and be your own hater.
Take out the fat of your edit and tighten it up. Maybe your one-minute edit should actually be a 30-second edit.
This is my process, maybe I think too much. There is no right or wrong way to make an edit. Just do whatever feels good!
Who does @shrimpdaddy follow on Instagram for edit inspiration?
I am most entertained with my close friends on Instagram. Also, I follow a lot of 90s movie clip accounts that have snippets from, well, 90s movies. A lot of my ideas and inspirations come from 90s movies and music.
What is the number one way to make an edit entertaining?
I guess keeping up with the trends and the times, making fun of things, good music, sound design, or just having a good idea.
What are you working on right now?
Right now I’m working from home editing a lot of @shrimpdaddy fun stuff and I also freelance at Westbrook. Got a few other things in the works that aren’t official yet, so I don’t wanna jinx myself. If it happens it happens.
Closing statement about skate edits or the COVID-19 situation?
Take this time at home to create some art and stay healthy! The government SUCKS!
Sound off in the comments below!