Air. Food. Water. Shelter... and a Smartphone. The most basic necessities of Life. Without these five critical elements, it is completely and totally impossible for us to survive. Sure, there's probably a few scraggly-bearded survival guys on TV who might disagree, but it's totally true, we read it on the internet... while on a smartphone.

 

Since smartphones are so important for everyone, they shouldn't be difficult to get. Not everyone wants to wait in a half-mile long line, or get stuck with an expensive and inflexible 22 month contract. They want options, they want upgrades, they want affordability. They want someone who will work with them to make it happen. That's where Aaron's and their lease-to-own plans come in. Aaron's is easy, and they think it should be easy for anyone to lease-to-own whatever they need for their home and family, without needing credit. When customers sign a new lease in-store or online, they know their customer’s goal isn't just to lease it, their goal is to own it. Aaron’s helps customers own it. Check out how lease-to-own works.

 

Aaron's is the leader in this business, and they've been around since 1955, serving moderate-income customers with sales and lease ownership for furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances, and more. Soon, "and more" will include a brand new category - Smartphones! - so they want your help in making this announcement in a creative way, and spreading awareness that customers can get the latest Smartphones at Aaron's.

The goal of this project is to create a suite of TWO 15-second Videos that are engaging and entertaining, and help communicate that Aaron’s has a new category line of Smartphones AND it’s a great option for your next phone. The Videos should be unique and creative, and should elevate the message beyond your typical one-dimensional info dump.

 

NOTE: Concept submissions MUST have the potential to be spun off into multiple spots, and should feel like inspiration for a series of unique Videos. 

 

--Key Marketing Messages:

• Aaron’s is a great option for the latest smartphones.
• You can upgrade to the latest smartphone at any time, with options to fit your budget and needs, low monthly payments, and no credit required.

 

--The Phones: 

• Aaron's would like some Videos to communicate that there are a variety of available phones, but they do not want Videos to list the smartphones, or focus on a specific smartphone. Instead, they'd like Videos to show phones without visible branding. That said, should it be a factor, the initial offering includes:
  • Samsung S5
  • Samsung Note 3
  • Motorola G5
  • LG G3
• Videos need not address wireless plans or carriers; the available phones will all be unlocked GSM smartphones.

 

--Target Audience:

• Most of their customers are in the 25-45 age range, and 60% are female.
• A little over half are Caucasian, 27% are African-American, and 15% are Hispanic, skewing towards a lower household income.
• Your Videos should strive to address a diverse audience, reflecting their diverse customer base. 

 

--Executional Mandatories:

• Aaron's branding should be prominent in the Videos.
• Avoid connotations of luxury or pretention. 

 

--Tone: Fun, fresh, friendly, authentic, and really engaging. Certainly being informative is important, but they like the subtle edge of something like this, which should give you some good inspiration, so you can be creative with humor.

 

--Exposure: Intended for use on digital and social media channels.

 

--Product & Assets: As specific phones are not necessary for Videos, they will not be provided. Aaron's will however provide a branded bumper and graphic assets to the Pitch winners.

This Project will be worth a total of $45,000 and consists of 3 Phases: a Concept Phase, a Pitch Phase, and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

NOTE: The Video Phase (11/14/15 to 12/02/15) will overlap with the Thanksgiving holiday season and require quick turnaround to deliver the first cut. After the first cut is delivered, Aaron's will deliver feedback on 12/04/15, and require final Videos delivered on 12/07/15. Please take this tight schedule into consideration. 

 

PHASE 1: CONCEPT – Tell us your CONCEPT for a suite of Videos to help Aaron's roll out their new Smartphone line in 500 characters or less. Remember, a Concept is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the suite of Videos, and it must be something that can inspire multiple Videos.  As always, Concepts should be clever and engaging.  The winning Concept creator will receive $1000. There are no residuals in this project.

 

PHASE 2: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a suite of TWO Videos based on one of the winning Concepts from the previous Phase using:

 

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute these Videos.
• Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
• Script (REQUIRED): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create. 
• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 
• Storyboards (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across.
• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us what you're capable of. Consider submitting a Pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your Pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome.   

 

The 4 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $4,000 to help create the Videos.  Additionally, upon submitting Videos that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase.  So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $4,500, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $10,000 First Place video prize. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.    

 

PHASE 3: VIDEO – The 4 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a suite of TWO 15-second Videos based upon their winning Pitch.

 

--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $10,000; 2nd place $7,500; 3rd place $6,000; 4th place $4,500.

 

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audioblocks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.

 

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.  

 

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won, up to $500 per place. Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

1. The Videos MUST not exceed 15-seconds in length. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should you win, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec

 

2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.

 

3. In the event you utilize any third party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.

 

4. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL.  FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.

 

5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

 

6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.

 

7. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.

 

8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

 

9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

 

10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

11. In the event that fewer than 50 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

12. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.

13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.

14. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot  OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your prize.

15. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.