Spotlight: Tim Wainwright
Volunteer Spotlight with Tim Wainwright
Can you talk a little bit about what you do?
Icon Creative first started out as Icon Films. Over the natural course of my love for filmmaking and working with clients, I developed a real knack to see projects from start to finish. The insights I’ve gained through hours on set and hours involved in creative development established a perspective that I believe benefits the final outcome. I feel blessed that I’m able to collaborate with agencies and clients early on to help mold the creative approach, and that there are people that appreciate that skill.
Are you working on any projects right now that you are particularly excited about?
A lot of my work has been very lifestyle-based with cinematography and telling a story through the camera. It might have been the lack of distractions during the pandemic, but I started to explore a new endeavor. And with that exploration, I invested in a robot-- I know that might sound crazy. If you picture a manufacturing robot that would weld a car together or paint a car, I own one of those. I’m teaming up with Flower City Studios to create a home for “Icon Robotics Cinema.” We basically put the camera on the end of this robot and I am able to program precise camera moves that repeat—I mean, to a micron—if I do a complex move around a product or a person, I can hit the button again and the camera will do the exact same move over and over again. It also whips the camera around at 27 feet per second so it’s extremely quick and really opens a whole new world of creative use of a camera.
Traditionally, in Rochester, we wouldn’t have access to something like that, so I’m pretty excited about that. Usually, it’s like a New York City or Chicago thing—now smack dab in little old Rochester!
How did you first hear about Causewave and what motivated you to get first get involved as a volunteer?
I started in this business as a studio production assistant at PCI recording in 1989. I remember doing an Ad Council spot for Volunteer Connection with John Marianetti.
Giving back is our responsibility. My dad was an episcopal minister, he and my mom both gave so much back to our entire community through their work at St Paul’s Church. I think being a person of faith has a huge impact on your sense of commitment to your community. I learned early on that the best feeling you can have at the end of a day, is knowing you shared a message that will affect another person. And that’s what volunteering at Causewave does -- we’re looking out for people in our community.
You’ve done a ton to support Causewave’s work recently, what volunteer role sticks out the most to you?
In 2020, I volunteered with Denishea Ortiz and Jacquelyn Lobel to help create a video for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association after they received the Matchstick Prize. As I worked on the project, I came to understand that it was the small things that mattered the most. A lot of the things that C.U.R.E. does can be seen as a small drop in the bucket, but the relief that it brought and its impact on the families they served was clear. C.U.R.E. is there to take care of the little stuff, so families on focus on the more important things, like the health of their child.
One of the more personal projects I was involved with was definitely the Alzheimer’s Caregivers video. My father did have Alzheimer’s, so I experienced it firsthand; seeing my mother’s commitment to my father and realizing she needed a break. The PSA tried to strike a balance between taking care of yourself and cherishing taking care of a loved one.
Why do you think Causewave’s work is important?
I think what’s important about Causewave is that they are a connector. We have so much talent in Rochester, but we have a lot of need. One of the greatest strengths of Causewave is being a place where the talent pool can get connected and help in a very efficient and effective way. To have an organization making it even easier to take care of someone else; it’s just a positive force. Truly, there is no better feeling when you do good.
What excites you most about the future of Greater Rochester?
It’s all the development happening downtown! It’s great to see people are making good decisions for our community and trying to invest in Update New York. It was devastating when the huge corporations left, but there are new sources supporting our community. We have an incredible technology base here in Rochester, and a young workforce, well-educated and ready to go for it. I know there are plenty of people that are seeing great value in Rochester and the community that’s here. That’s the exciting part.
What might be something readers are surprised to know about you?
I have thirty-seven half brothers and sisters. Buy me a drink sometime, and I’ll tell you the whole story!
How do you drink your coffee?
I’m a venti mocha cappuccino drinker. My greatest realization is that if I knew coffee was so good, I would have started in college and probably got much better grades.
Any final thoughts you would like to share?
Volunteering does not have to be incredibly time-consuming—you just need to bring your heart and your talent. And the rewards are ten-fold. A community is not a community without volunteers.