While not a perfect match for this year's visual / narrative approach, these videos serve as a good reference for tone, style, and overall approach for your content:

• Home Pro
• Real Estate

H&R Block understands that small business owners didn’t start their business to manage payroll and bookkeeping; that's where Block Advisors by H&R Block comes in. Just like the H&R Block team recognizes that business owners are pros at what they do, Block Advisors are pros at year-round bookkeeping and payroll services. They understand that removing some of the financial busywork allows business owners to focus on what they do best: serving customers, growing their business, and reclaiming their time. Basically, if you're a small business owner, Block Advisors by H&R Block has got you covered, and wants to help you get back to the work you love. 

That's the message we want to share with small business owners, and that's where you come in: we're looking for a filmmaker to produce one :15 live action video that builds awareness and trust about the payroll and bookkeeping services Block Advisors by H&R Bock provides for their small business customers year-round. Using scripts and user interface graphic components provided by H&R Block, your videos should be relatable and approachable, and give viewers confidence that Block Advisors by H&R Block are the experts their small businesses need. It'll be accompanied by a :06 cutdown, and delivered in multiple aspect ratios. Full scripts and graphics components will be provided upon greenlight, although you'll need to create the actual motion graphics, and each video will move through three key beats: 

1. Recognition: “You didn’t start a business to do this.” - Show the late nights, spreadsheets, payroll stress, and administrative burden.
2. Reassurance: “We help businesses like yours every day.” - Show Block Advisors’ expertise and administrative support. 
3. Momentum: “Get back to your business.” - Focus on saving time, gaining confidence, and growth for your business. 

Some similar videos, including a couple that Tongal produced for H&R Block's 2025 tax season, are reviewable in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are 6 total video assets.

• One :15 hero video (16x9, 9x16, 1x1)
• One :06 cutdown (16x9, 9x16, 1x1)

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE

EXPOSURE: We expect content will be used on the platforms below, but if casting talent, be sure they review our required Talent Release before they're cast, as we CANNOT guarantee that usage is limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• Block Advisors by H&R Block's website, YouTube channel, and social media

TARGET AUDIENCE: 

• Owners of growing small businesses who are wearing too many hats. They started their business to do the work they love, not bookkeeping, payroll, or administrative tasks. They feel the pressure of managing finances correctly but don’t always know where to turn for help.
• Business owners currently using software-only solutions of local providers who are open to a more trusted, human-supported option. 

TONE/FEEL: Authentic, approachable, knowledgeable; not condescending or insider-y.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Videos must use provided scripts and any graphics templates, fonts, and colors
• Green should be used thematically but not overwhelmingly in wardrobe and set dec; avoid competitor colors, especially red. H&R Block's style guide will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker
• Vertical videos must adhere to the YouTube Shorts text safe template, which may mean resizing or even reanimating certain motion graphics.

AI USAGE: You may not use AI generated visual or audio assets in your final content. However, for the purposes of your pitch and pre-production materials, you are welcome to use generative AI to create visuals, storyboards, animatics, proofs-of-concept, etc. that might help the Sponsor understand your vision for creating the final content. Additionally, assistive AI tools (e.g. object removal, compositing, color grading, sound mixing, subtitling, etc.) may be used in post-production to supplement your workflow. Please keep record of any AI usage deployed in your submissions in the event that the Sponsor requests AI disclosures. If you have questions about any specific usage or tool, please ask your Tongal producer.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period, but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

1. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their 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 earnings. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 16x9). Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor's organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
8. 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 creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.