USVI-On-Line

To be a member of VIOL can result in funny experiences.

This is one of my topics:

My son has send us a video from Christmas, which I just love. Make me laugh. So I thought that my friends here on VIOL should have the opportunity to have a laugh too. Therefore I have, which I'm a little proud about, found out to place it on YouTube.

You can find it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqlpJeVPigw

Enjoy!


Today I have got a mail from an ad agency with the name Energy BBDO Chicago:

I came across the clip of the two boys laughing - are they your boys and did you shoot this clip? If so, I was wondering if you would be interested in it being used in a test commercial. I work in an ad agency and would like to initially get the rights to use the clip within a spot for testing purposes (small fee paid). If all went well in the testing process (i.e. focus groups) we might want to use the clip on television!

Please let me know if you are interested or not.

I cannot see there should be something wrong saying yes to that. My son has googled the firm, and it seems to exist. What do you think?

Linne

i say why not? those kids are really adorable !

I would ask to see their release contract and rate card (what they pay).

Cheers, Rick

Check with the Better Business Bureau in Chicago about them.

Linne...They're adorable! Be very careful. I'm always skeptical of anything involving children and the internet. (Cop's wife..)

Hi Linne,

Your kids are super-cute! I agree with Rick G's advice. Get the release and rate sheet. The Better Business Bureau might have some info about them, but that's only if they've been reported for something. Just because there isn't any info at the BBB doesn't necessarily mean they are legit.

You could also ask them to give you some business references.

They seem to be a well respected firm here. I have never worked with them (I work for a small firm with a small budget) but I'll ask around and see if I can find someone who works with or for them.

I think if you follow RickG's advice you'll be fine. The gentleman from BBDO mentions getting the rights for a test spot; in the contract it should specify that use is for the test spot only; further use (e.g. in a commercial) would require another contract, and then they will probably want sole rights to the material.

What a fun opportunity! Even if you decide not to do this, it's a nice compliment. The kids are adorable.

BBDO is one of the oldest ad firms out there -
As long as you can verify that it is really them (email and phone, etc.) I can't imagine them not being professional about everything else.

Thank you very much for your replies. Nice to have friends in USA (and Italy) !

We didn’t really know, if we should say yes or no, so I told the parents that I would ask my American friends, hoping that perhaps someone knows the firm and could give us an advice (too example the chicagoans ). It's not so much a question about money, but more about how they use the video and for what purpose. The children aren’t naked and anyone can see them on YouTube, but you read so much about swindlers and frauds on the Internet, so I want to be careful. Both chicagoans and Anthony know the firm, so I think I will tell that we are interested just to see their next step, and later I can follow RickG’s advice.

Linne

And thank you for the nice words about my grandchildren. It warms a grandmotother heart if others can see how lovely they are.

I'm in advertising, and I can also attest to BBDO's long reputation for integrity. This sort of thing happens more often than you may imagine, so I'm pretty sure you can be comfortable that they'll treat you well.

Robin

they are such beautiful children..! i am just curious as to what they are saying?

After reading the answers here and with some more information from the Chicagoans I got convinced that the agency was serious. So I send them a reply asking what the purpose was with the video, and what the fee was. They answered that they perhaps will use it in advertising for vitamins and the fee would be about 150 dollars for the test and 500+ dollars for eventually national broadcast use. Vitamins are fine for us, I don’t know about the fee?, but actually I hope they will use the clip. It could be funny, if more people could have a laugh listening to my grandchildren!

Linne

Maryanne wrote:they are such beautiful children..! i am just curious as to what they are saying?

It's a little silly but the oldest tells his parents that he has a snotty nose, I think he wants them to come with a pocket handkerchief. My son says later something like "you two are clowns".

In Danish my grandchild is saying: "jeg har snottet næse" and my son is saying " I er nogle pjathoveder I to"

So that was the Danish lesson for today

Linne

ha, thanks for Danish lesson.

Just to follow up on the story. The agency has told that they love the video, but the project has been cancelled.

What a pitty. I would have loved to know that my grandchildren were TV stars in USA .

Linne