Frequently asked questions

➤ What exactly is Edinburg Spotlight?

Edinburg Spotlight is a documentary-style show created to highlight the people, stories, and places that give our city its character.
When you take part in the program, you’re joining a storytelling project—not purchasing a marketing service or an ad.
Your story becomes part of a larger documentary about our community.

➤ What am I actually purchasing when I reserve a Feature Placement?

A Feature Placement gives you the opportunity to be filmed and included as a featured guest in the show.
Think of it as being invited onto a documentary series—not commissioning a video or commercial.
Our team documents your story, and your segment becomes part of the show’s narrative.

➤ Do I receive the footage, photos, or edited video?

No.
Everything captured during filming belongs to Edinburg Spotlight as part of the show’s production archive.
If and when publicly released, you may share it only if platform permissions allow.

➤ Can I request changes or approve how my story is shown?

Because this is a documentary, the story is crafted editorially by our team.
We guide the narrative, choose the footage, and shape the final presentation so each episode stays authentic and cohesive.
Participants don’t review or approve edits, but we always approach every story with respect and intention.

➤ Who will appear on camera besides me?

You—the primary Participant—will appear on the show as part of your Feature Placement.

If you wish to include other individuals (employees, family members, collaborators, customers, etc.), each person must sign a Model Release Form before filming.
If filming occurs on private property not owned by you, a Location Release Form is also required.

Even with signed releases, inclusion of additional individuals is editorially determined, meaning our team will decide how each person appears in the story based on what best fits the documentary’s structure.

➤ Why are payments non-refundable?

Once a placement is reserved, our team immediately commits production time, crew schedules, filming days, and editing resources to your story.
These commitments cannot be undone or reassigned later, which is why all payments are final and non-refundable—consistent with standard practices in film and documentary production.

➤ What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

If you need to reschedule, please provide at least 72 hours’ notice.
Late cancellations or no-shows cannot be refunded and may require waiting for the next available filming window.
A second cancellation ends the placement entirely.

➤ What if Edinburg Spotlight needs to reschedule?

Occasionally weather, location issues, or production needs require us to adjust our filming calendar.
If that happens, we’ll communicate with you as soon as possible and select a new date within our production schedule.
Producer-initiated rescheduling does not result in refunds.

➤ Can I dispute the payment or file a chargeback?

Payments are final and protected by a chargeback waiver.
Because production resources are committed immediately, chargebacks are not permitted and will be disputed.

➤ Will being featured help my business grow?

Many participants enjoy positive attention from their features, but we do not guarantee exposure, sales, or specific outcomes.
Edinburg Spotlight is created for storytelling and community documentation—not for marketing performance.

➤ Can I use the footage for my own marketing?

Only if you purchase a separate media rights license.
Without a license, footage cannot be downloaded, edited, or repurposed for personal or commercial use.

➤ What if there’s a conduct issue during filming?

Respect and professionalism are essential.
If someone behaves aggressively, disrupts production, or refuses direction, the placement may be terminated without refund.
We aim to maintain a positive environment for everyone involved.

➤ I’m signing on behalf of a business. Do I need authority?

Yes.
The person signing must have legal authority to bind the business.
If not, that individual becomes personally responsible for fulfilling the obligations.

➤ Why is the show structured this way?

Documentary production requires clarity, structure, and editorial freedom.
Our process protects the authenticity of each story while ensuring high production quality and a sustainable show for our community.
These guidelines help every feature flow smoothly and maintain the integrity of the series.

➤ Is Edinburg Spotlight an ad agency or marketing service?

No.
Edinburg Spotlight is a documentary show, not a marketing company.
We do not create advertisements, promotional campaigns, branded content, or marketing assets.
Your Feature Placement is an opportunity to share your story as part of a documentary series—not a service designed to generate sales or customer traffic.

➤ Does Edinburg Spotlight offer social media management or content creation for my platforms?

No.
We do not manage social media pages, run advertising campaigns, design marketing strategies, or produce content for your business pages.
Our filming is solely for inclusion in the show.
Any material we release publicly remains part of the Edinburg Spotlight program.

➤ Will you create custom videos or marketing edits for my business?

No.
We do not create custom edits, ads, reels, trailers, or commercial-style videos for Participant use.
All editing is done to serve the documentary episode, not to fulfill marketing requests or branding purposes.

➤ Can I hire you to edit or repurpose my footage after filming?

Edinburg Spotlight does not offer editing-on-demand or custom commercial editing services.
If you want to use the footage for your own marketing, this requires a separate media rights license, and even then, custom editing services are not automatically included.

➤ Can I use the episode footage for my business’s marketing?

Not automatically.
All footage belongs to the show.
If you wish to use any footage for marketing or branding purposes, you must request a paid licensing agreement.
Without a license, footage cannot be downloaded, reposted, or altered.

➤ Will being featured guarantee marketing results or increased sales?

No.
While many viewers enjoy learning about the people in our community, Edinburg Spotlight does not—and cannot—promise:

• increased business

• higher sales

• social media growth

• brand exposure

• public engagement

Your feature is about storytelling, representation, and cultural documentation.

➤ Is this a paid promotion or sponsored advertisement?

No.
A Feature Placement is not a sponsored advertisement or influencer-style partnership.
It is a spot within a documentary program, created with full editorial independence.

➤ Why is the distinction between “documentary show” and “marketing service” so important?

Because the goals, expectations, and rights are completely different.
A marketing agency delivers promotional results;
A documentary show delivers a story.
Your participation supports the creation of a narrative—not the creation of a marketing product.

➤ Do I get to choose how my business or story is portrayed?

Not exactly.
Edinburg Spotlight is a documentary show, which means the story is shaped through authentic moments, interviews, and the natural environment of your daily work. We honor your voice and your perspective, but the final portrayal is guided by editorial judgment, narrative clarity, and the integrity of the documentary process. We do not create promotional portrayals or curated brand messaging.

➤ Will my episode look like a commercial for my business?

No.
A documentary segment is not a commercial.
Our focus is on who you are, what you do, and why your work matters — not on creating sales-focused content, calls to action, or advertising-style presentation. Your story is featured as part of a larger community narrative, not as a marketing campaign.

➤ Can I approve the final edit before it is published?

No.
Documentaries require full editorial independence. While we guide you through the filming process and ensure interviews are comfortable and clear, the final edit is created solely by our production team and is not subject to approval, revision requests, or alteration by participants.

➤ Will you script my answers or help me “sell” my business on camera?

No.
We may guide the conversation to keep the story focused and natural, but we do not script dialogue or design messaging meant to promote your business. The goal is authenticity — capturing your true voice, not a rehearsed pitch.

➤ Can I request specific shots, scenes, or messages to be included in my feature?

You are welcome to share ideas, but the final filming plan is determined by the needs of the documentary. Our team chooses shots, sequences, and narrative structure based on visual storytelling, thematic coherence, and the arc of the episode — not for marketing or promotional purposes.

➤ What if I need content for my business after my feature airs?

Your Feature Placement includes only what appears within the Edinburg Spotlight program.
If you need additional content — such as ads, social media videos, photos, or personalized edits — that would fall under a separate service, entirely outside the documentary. These services, when available, can be quoted independently and are not included in your Feature Placement.