The NFCC's programs and services are accessed through their national network of over 50 nonprofit members agencies. Each agency is staffed by NFCC Certified Financial Counselors who are financial advocates who can help struggling consumers get started with a financial review that addresses credit card debt, student loans, housing affordability, opportunities for homeownership, establish a budget, and develop a personalized financial action plan. 

The NFCC connects a consumer to one of our member agencies through a telephone line or online form. For the telephone line, the consumer is usually connected to a live counselor during extended business hours and most Saturdays. For the online form, the agency follows-up with a phone call usually within an hour. 

In a counseling session, the client’s financial goals and situation are reviewed in detail. A credit report is pulled (no ding on your credit score for the pull). The counselor will walk through the client’s budget and debt in detail to develop an action plan. The client may end up being recommended for a Debt Management Plan (DMP). This plan is an already negotiated agreement with the banks for reduced interest rates and monthly payments to help clients in need pay off their debt more quickly. If a client does not qualify for a DMP, they will be provided with local community resources, an action plan for what to do next, and tips and tricks for managing debt.

Emotional Benefits: 

• Personalized solutions 
• 100% Confidential 
• Dedicated financial support from nonprofit certified credit counselors

Tangible Benefits:

• Payoff debt faster 
• Lower interest rates regardless of credit score. 
• Affordable monthly payment A budget review and actionable plan.

With so much information out there, people are unsure about where they should go for help when it comes to learning about credit and debt management. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is a trusted nonprofit dedicated to the financial well-being of consumers, and to helping them gain control over their finances. They focus on resolving unsecured debt (or credit) as their primary service, with secondary services for housing, student loans, rental assistance, foreclosure avoidance, and first-time home buyers. They thrive on actually helping people get ahead of their finances as opposed to simply telling people to get help. Unlike Debt Settlement, Credit Repair, or Consolidation Loans, the NFCC provides action plans that are in the best interest of the consumer and matches their financial needs.

 

The goal of this video is to create a :30 video that builds awareness of credit counseling and encourages people in need to connect with a counselor for a credit counseling session to figure out how to pay off their debt faster and reach their financial goals. The NFCC is open to live action, animation, or live action with animation & motion graphics. Check out more information in the Background section, or ask questions here in the Project Forum. 

For this project, once a filmmaker is selected, they will be put directly in contact with the sponsor. All communication and feedback between both parties will run through the Tongal platform.

DELIVERABLES: Two total deliverables:

• One :30 video (16x9)
• One alternate :30 version (16x9). Alternate variation will involve the same characters, locations, and script, and will mostly involve small changes that can be handled in post-production, including changes to CTAs, end-card designs, on-screen text copy, and other minor edits. Additionally, depending on where the creative lands, a version may include a slight variation to the script. This will be decided between the selected producer and client during scripting.

 

TIMELINE: Please find the anticipated timeline HERE, but note that if you are selected, you should consult with your Tongal producer to ensure you are always working off of the most up to date timeline.

 

EXPOSURE: YouTube. For YouTube TrueView for action best practices please click here. 

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who may be:

• Looking to receive financial help
• Embarrassed, ashamed, or even scared to raise their hand for help
• Late on several payments and looking to catch up
• Avoiding calls out of fear that it may be a debt collector

Specifically, they'd like to build awareness of credit counseling with the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. These communities are disproportionately impacted by financial inequities and COVID-related set-backs. Casting and characters should be reflective of this community.

TONE: Hopeful and Empowering

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:

• You must incorporate the NFCC's Brand Guidelines (which will be given at a later time) into the visual style of the video. If animation is used, the client has requested their new brand identity (to be provided later) is used. Both will be provided for reference as the brand is in midst of transition.
• Live Action and animated videos must feature diverse talent and characters with a focus on African American and Hispanic millennials.
• To note, NFCC connects clients to NFCC-certified counselors but does not do the actual counseling. Therefore, it is important to mention "connects clients to NFCC-certified counselors."
• Phrases such as "offering debt management opportunities to reduce interest and fees and put a plan into action for getting you back on your way to financial health" are fine.
• Do NOT describe services as "credit repair", "debt settlement", or "consolidation".
• Do NOT say "reduce your debt" as this implies that they reduce your principal, which they do not do.
• End card must contain their toll-free number and a Call To Action (CTA) like "Fill out a form on our website to schedule a credit counseling session." Client is open to alternative ways to say the CTA.

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We're working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and you should ensure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline and budget, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• 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 (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them 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. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

1. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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. 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.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. 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.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. 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.