Brand Deals, Sponsorship & Business
Spec work
Also called: on spec, speculative work, free test video, working on spec
A brand asks for a sample video, a test edit, or the first deliverable of a campaign, framed as seeing whether it is a fit, with payment conditional on them liking the result. You carry all the risk, they carry none, and the file exists whether or not they sign. Occasionally it earns its place, early on, when you badly need portfolio material. The tells are a brand that will not discuss rates before seeing work, and no kill fee if they walk away.