Why growing filmmakers are making spec ads in 2026

If you’re a filmmaker, videographer, or running a video production company and feel stuck with low-budget or misaligned clients, these are the lessons we wish we learned earlier. In this video, we break down how we made it: • Why spec work matters more than we realized • What we got wrong about spec ads for years • How making a spec commercial shifted how clients see us • Why this project did more for our business than paid work • What to do after you finish a spec ad ——— Gear List Blackmagic 6K PRO Laowa 12mm Aputure 1200x Secced Cine Tripod 75mm Zoom F6 Sennheiser EW-DP Lavs Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 Sigma 50-100mm f1.8 Glow Butterfly Frame 8x8 Neewer TL60 Godox VL300 ——— 💻 Interested in Growing in Your Filmmaking?    / @novel.productions   📱Follow us on Instagram where we share our inspiration   / novelcanada   📥 For business inquiries email us at: [email protected] ——— Chapters: 0:00 — Intro 0:22 — reliability is everything. 1:55 — you cannot skip pre-production. 3:28 — pick the right team. 4:50 — encourage and inspire your team. 5:33 — make time to be creative. 6:15 — shaping and bouncing light. 7:21 — what I wish we did. 8:14 — pushing yourself through spec work. 9:33 — sketchy rigs vs genius setups 11:41 — production value comes in many forms 12:34 — get your permits, it’s worth it. 13:05 — the drama of favours. 14:53 — why you should do a spec too. 15:41 — spec work is your marketing strategy. 17:11 — our faith when it comes to filmmaking. 18:15 — we are burning the ships.