Be sure to check out some of the Spruce Money Management videos created on Tongal last year: 

• How to Improve Your Credit Score
• How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt
• 6 Steps to Help with Money Saving Goals
• Understanding Types of Savings Accounts

Spruce is H&R Block's mobile banking platform, and it comes with the same trust and support that H&R Block customers know and love – but none of the "punishments" that traditional banks impose on clients, like monthly balance requirements or monthly fees. Spruce is mobile banking designed to help you be better with money and gain financial literacy through resources, guidance, and positive, empathetic motivation. Spruce is also available to everyone, including those who are historically considered financially vulnerable: people who, traditionally, have not had the means or opportunity to engage in traditional banking, or who have been penalized by traditional banks for not having the means to keep up with arbitrary minimums, regular deposits, and the like. 

For this project, we'll focus on the financial literacy component of Spruce, and helping people understand some core money management concepts while they're on social platforms – something that's more relevant these days than ever before, as Americans face new uncertainties with their household budgets and plans for the future. The suite of five videos (16x9) you create will help Americans face these anxieties, empower themselves with approachable financial literacy, and help them feel more stable about the future, whatever it may hold.

Last year, we worked with Spruce to create a series of explainer videos to help break down core money management concepts in a relatable and motivational way. As you can see in the sample content linked in the Background, that series used lightweight motion graphics over live-action video to bring these topics to life. For this year's suite of five videos, we're looking to keep the conversationally educational tone, but are open to exploring different creative approaches and visual styles. We think a mix of lightweight live-action and motion graphics is still the best way to share this info, but how you envision both: what sort of live-action setup, the look and feel of the motion graphics, how you balance the two in each video, etc – is entirely up to you. Maybe your approach calls for more motion graphics, lightly supported by live-action to put a friendly, relatable face to things (similar to influencer videos); or maybe you want to lean even more into live-action but create motion graphics that add an unexpected design element to the series on top of driving home key info. Whatever you have in mind, break it down for us in your pitch so we can get as excited as you are about your idea. 

Whatever creative path you envision, though, your videos must ultimately encourage people to take a closer look at Spruce with the confidence that Spruce's banking app is the right place for their money, today and tomorrow. Your videos should feel organic on social, and your casting (on camera and/or VO) should reflect the key Spruce demographics: single parents (26-44) and young adults (18-26). The tone should be engaging, friendly, and caring.

Spruce will provide scripts with all of the key talking points and language, but you should plan to take a creative pass at these to help bring them to life in a relatable, authentic way. From there, you'll create one video covering each of the below topics:

1. What is APY?
2. Different types of credit cards
3. Debt to income ratio
4. General paycheck FAQ
5. FICO score vs credit score

Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are five total video assets: 

• Five :60-:90 explainer videos (16x9)
• .SRT Files

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 it is NOT limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• Spruce's Resource Center page, the H&R Block/Spruce YouTube channel

TARGET AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; specifically, young adults/older Gen Z (18-28).

TONE/FEEL: Vibrant, welcoming, helpful, empathetic. Authentic and approachable.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Must communicate that Spruce is built by H&R Block.
• Videos must include legal disclaimers (provided by the brand) and an endcard with a CTA. Assets will be provided in production. 
• Videos must incorporate SEO terminology and facts from their existing FAQ topic pages, which will be provided by the brand.
  
  

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.

• 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.