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Doing it on Spec?

It’s a common term in the multi media world, but what does it actually mean?

The term is actually stemmed from the phrase “On Speculation” and essentially means doing the work at your own expense in the hopes that it will create opportunities that lead to future work.

The term is not solely limited to the film world either. In Finance; Speculation hopes for future returns on initial spending or investment. In Real Estate, you would purchase a home with Speculation that its value will rise in the future. But, in most industries, it’s about creating a sample of the work you are capable of doing as a demonstration to those that may require or pay for such skills.

In Film, it’s not uncommon for a screenwriter to write a spec script with the aim of attracting a literary agent or perhaps the chance to see the piece on the screen. Sometimes directors or cinematographers will do spec work to build a demo or “Show Reel” to showcase their skills or aesthetic. This will often help in getting them noticed or considered for an upcoming project.

And the same is true in the Ad and Marketing world.  In fact, Rockey Shores has also created a few spec ads as a long shot attempt to create a relationship with a particular brand or as an entry into a contest.  You’ve seen our work for the Big Rock Brewery Commercial Contest, but here’s another example of a Spec Ad.  Initially this piece was shot for a commercial contest with a very attractive prize pool.  Just after production, the contest was cancelled and we were left with all the footage already in the can and ready to go. Rather than waste the time, effort and expense put into the piece, we finished post production and went to the client directly.  Who knows, it could have lead to a sale of the piece, a contract for additional work, or at the very least, put RSP on their radar.

It’s not hard to accept that this piece may have been a little outside their brand image, but it was worth a shot. Now we share this with you for your enjoyment.

Does this mean we’re going to continue doing spec work when the inspiration strikes? You bet. And we encourage you to do the same.  Just be smart about the time and resources you put into the project. If the client isn’t interested, is their another way you can use that work? What’s the plan once the piece is done?

Have you done any spec work? We’d love you to share it with us too.  Did you sell the piece? Or is it sitting in cyber space collecting dust? Leave us a comment below or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to us on YouTube.

Day 25 of #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas Everyone!  As I write this, I too suffer from a case of over indulgence.  Time is short as I feel myself slowly succumbing to a food coma. It’s the 25^th and final day of ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas 2012’ If you’re just tuning in, let me tell you what’s going on:  For the last 25 days, I’ve written a daily blog post in the attempts to share a little Christmas Spirit during a season of stress and chaos. Every day I embed a video of a Christmas song or Carol to help you take a mental vacation.  It’s often best when shared with family and friends. In addition to sharing a video, I also highlight a Charity of the Day in which I donate $5.00 to and then provide links for you to be able to do the same.  $5.00 to a different charity a day doesn’t seem like much, but the intent is to encourage others to join me and match my donations. If I can get a few friends to do so, then they share the post and a few of their friends are inspired to contribute, all of a sudden that small offering has turned into a movement.  I know times are tough and money is tight, so sacrificing the cost of a cup of coffee for 25 days is about all I can really hope to do.

This 2012 campaign has been the third year in a row, and every year it grows a little bit more.  More and more people join in on the campaign, take a minute to share it on Facebook or Twitter and the message continues to spread.  The best part of the whole thing, is that people are now beginning to suggest charities to feature, they’re sharing their favourite music videos, and for the first time ever, we even had a special guest writer. 25 Days. 25 Blog Posts. 25 Christmas Videos. 25 Charities Supported. And 25 portions of Christmas Cheer served.

Today is the last and final day. One more video, and one more charity to feature. On this 25^th day of December and #Tims25Days of Christmas, we have chosen to support my favourite charity.  Today, I’ve donated my daily $5.00 to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. You can match my donation by clicking here: http://www.bcchf.ca/.

Since this is the last post of the season, we’re going to go all out! When you think of classic Christmas Carols, I’m sure many would volunteer Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, and that’s what we’re going to feature today. We hope you enjoy 3 very different takes on this classic.

Well that’s it folks.  #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012 has finally come to a conclusion.  I would like to thank everyone who has championed this campaign.  From those who have Commented on Posts, those who have Liked and Shared on Facebook, those who have Retweeted on Twitter, to of course those who have generously donated to any or all of the daily Charities. I appreciate and am humbled by all the support you’ve offered.  If you’re willing, let’s do this again next year.  If you haven’t seen you favourite Christmas Song, or perhaps know of a version by your favourite artist, please send me a message and we’ll try and feature it next year.  In addition, why not tell us your preferred charity of choice, whether we’ve featured it or not. Let’s make next year as successful as this year’s.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before I let you go this one last time, I’ll ask you to once again take a moment to pass this post along  to everyone in your network.  Just because we’re on day 25, doesn’t mean you can’t go back and contribute to each of the previous days. In fact, I’ve made a cheat sheet for you. You can see the list of all 25 Days of Charities by clicking on this link to our community page: http://www.rockeyshores.com/community/25-days-of-christmas-2012/.

I hope this season has been filled with joy and laughter for you. Thank-you for being a large part in what has given me a great deal of Christmas Spirit.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tim Rockey

Day 24 of #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012

Happy Christmas Eve! It’s the 24^th of December and the 24^th Day of ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas’.  If yesterday was all about taking the time during the holidays to remember those we’ve lost, then today will be all about appreciating those we are still lucky enough to have.

For me, I thank my Christmas Stars that I sill have my Mom around to enjoy the holidays with.  There was once a Christmas where things were very scary; a feeling and experience that I hope you can all avoid as long as possible.  Several years ago, my mother was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and there were a lot of questions and uncertainties.  Looking back on that time, I still cannot imagine what life would have been like had the outcome been different.  Now, six years later, my mom has recovered and is still cancer free.  You had better believe that I’m thankful.  I know that many can’t say that they are as lucky, and my heart goes out to them.

In an effort to support those that fight this terrible disease, and to comfort those that have been affected by it, today we feature the BC Cancer Foundation as the Charity of the Day. As I have with every day this month, I have donated $5.00 and today it goes to this amazing organization.  You too can be a part of the hope by clicking here to contribute: http://bccancerfoundation.com/

Since I dedicated this ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas’ post to my mom, I’ll also feature a Christmas song by one of her favourite artists.  As you watch this video, I hope you take a moment to appreciate the loved ones that you have around you.

Thanks for joining us on this beautiful Christmas Eve 2012.  If you are able, take a moment to Share this with your network and help bring the resources needed to finally beat this disease. One more day in the campaign…so we’ll see you tomorrow.

Happiest of Holidays,

Tim Rockey

Day 23 of #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012

Would you say you have been naughty or nice this year? If you are biased like me, you will likely state the latter, and maybe, or maybe not, Santa will agree. How joyous it is that we have all been so nice; however, consider the price for an elf?! The more nice people on the list, the more presents are being pumped out of Santa’s shop!! We think elves love their jobs because they are always happy and singing in movies and commercials; but consider the stress. Deadlines! Constantly working with a sense of urgency!! A boss who is a demanding micro manager scrutinizing your every move, looking over your shoulder, and breathing down your neck!!! Our body’s response to stress was originally to protect us; however, constant exposure to stress begins to release cortisol and adrenaline causing your heart to race, alterations in immune system responses, and suppression of the digestive system. That is why Confucius was onto something when he said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Hey, maybe some of the elves have chosen a job that is a great fit for them, and kudos to those elves; but the reality is, Santa maybe a slave driver causing many en elf to end up in the North Pole Elf Hospital because of strokes, heart attacks, or heart disease. Then again, perhaps elves have a very short shelf-life, are disposable, and completely decompose within a year to create great soil to grow new elves. Truly, I am not entirely certain how it works. All I know for sure is that I would be stressed working in an environment like Santa’s sweatshop.

While Christmas can be a joyous time for us nice people, it can also be stressful wreaking havoc on both our immune systems as well as the elves. That is why today, we are featuring the Heart and Stroke Foundation for our charity of the day. The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s visionary mission statement is “Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen.” Mother Teresa once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Tim has donated his daily $5.00 to the organization, and you can too simply by clicking this link: http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca/ . Together, let us make it happen!

Thanks for reading and following along with ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas‘! Only two days left!!! Please forward to everyone you know, naughty or nice, so we can work towards improving the heart health of all Canadians. The better health of our hearts equals the more love we can contain to give to others.

Merry Christmas!

Neely Hazell

Day 22 of #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012

Wow! Are we ever getting close. It’s like the semi finals of ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas’ with only 4 days left to go! Today, we’re discussing what Christmas Traditions you like to do with your friends and family.  We often make going to the Stanley Park Christmas Train one of the top events on our list. Perhaps that’s what we’ll do tomorrow. Also on our list is the Van Dusen Garden Christmas Lights and the Christmas Trees at Ambleside. What Christmas-y things have you done, or are planning to do, this year? Since we’re talking about the Christmas Train…

If you’ve ever been to the Stanley Park Christmas Train, you know two things. One: It’s pretty magical, albeit cold. And Two: The proceeds go to support the BC Professional Fire Fighter’s Burn Fun.  I’ve donated $5.00 today to this organization.  You can do the same by clicking here: http://www.burnfund.org/ .  If you go visit Bright Lights inStanleyPark, you add additional donations there too!

Hopefully your last Saturday before Christmas has been as productive as mine.  I’m happy to report that I have finished all of my shopping for the season. Now I just have to wrap everything. Before I do, I have to remind you to share this post wherever possible.  Only a few more days to complete the campaign.  Thanks for being a part of it.

Happiest of Holidays,

Tim Rockey

Day 21 of #Tims25Days of Christmas 2012

If you’re reading this, then I guess we’ve both survived the End of the World Zombie Apocalypse. Strange, yet completely encouraging,  is that your first thought after the obvious, “I’m alive!” was to check “Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas’. Perhaps there’s hope for this world yet.

We’re 3 weeks in now and in the final stretch.  Nothing says “I’m Glad I survived the night…” than a little more Michael Bublé. Enjoy!

Since I’m glad to still be around to finish this ‘Tim’s 25 Days of Christmas’ 2012 campaign, it seems only fitting to feature The Salvation Army. See what I did there? You can match my $5.00 donation here: http://www.salvationarmy.ca/britishcolumbia/ .

Well, it looks like it’s back to business as usual. So, thanks in advance for taking a brief moment to Comment below, Share and Like on Facebook, and of course Retweet on Twitter. We’re back again tomorrow, so we’ll see you then.

Happiest of Holidays,

Tim Rockey