Chime is a financial technology company founded on the premise that basic banking services should be helpful, free, and easy, so it's no surprise that their social media presence is aimed at making the sometimes boring (and intimidating!) financial world a bit more upbeat, fun, and approachable. The financial world is more than just banking too, and it includes making smart money decisions in general. For example, when it comes to purchases, the usual assumption is that "expensive = better," but Chime knows this isn't always the case, and so they're looking to create a new live action YouTube series that can show viewers that price really isn't indicative of quality. They imagine that this entails a charismatic host, who will try out and compare different real-world lifestyle products - not Chime banking products - at different price points. 

The goal of this project is to produce the pilot episode of the series, but in success there's an opportunity to extend this project into an ongoing series with additional budget. For your pilot, Chime is open to any kind of product that a host could try out, from home goods to food, to clothing, technology, and more. Importantly, they want your perspective on how trying those items could fit into an episode, and how you'd show items at low, mid, and high price points, but you have a lot of flexibility in how you interpret and present those comparisons. Is your host trying multiple different items per episode in one broader category (e.g. home goods), or are they focusing on one single type of item for the full episode? They're hoping for something 10-15 minutes in length, but a compelling pitch that runs shorter could work too. While we do genuinely want people to be able to learn about the value of different products, you should think about how this pilot can still be unique, entertaining, and fun.
 
Casting is also key here. Chime is ultimately looking for a charismatic host that can take on the task of being both entertaining and informative, while giving informed opinions on products, and judging those products by criteria like price, quality, level of effort, time, craftsmanship, etc. Your host should have a good sense of humor, and any improv experience would be a plus. It's also important to note that we don't want to get very negative about any of the items the host is trying. While we can poke fun at what might make one product better than another, we should never get mean-spirited.

From a setting standpoint, Chime is open to a studio or real world environment - whatever works best for your vision. However, it is important to note that whatever setting you choose would need to be replicated for a consistent look and feel across future episodes. But apart from that, they're also open to how you'd bring this to life visually, and what you think would work best in terms of styling. As a final note, you should plan for some light motion graphics in terms of series title intro, lower thirds, etc., so please be sure to factor that into your budget considerations. 

In your pitch, please tell us a bit more about your vision for the episode, the items you'd want the host to try in the pilot episode, and any references for what your set might look like. You do not need to have specific casting in mind at this stage, but if you have references for the personality you'll be aiming for in your host, please include those in your treatment. For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are 5 total video assets, and 2 still assets.

• One ~10-15 min episode (16x9), though Chime is open to a slightly shorter length if it works better
• One :30 social promo (9x16)
• Three up to :30 teasers (9x16), each focusing on a different item tried 
• One YouTube thumbnail (16x9)
• One social thumbnail (9x16)
• SRT File for the main episode
• Raw footage

 

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section.

 

EXPOSURE:

• YouTube
• YouTube Shorts
• Instagram Reels
• TikTok
• Please review the platform best practices page.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• People ages 22-44, with an emphasis on the 25-37 age range (Millennials)
• This audience could be considered foodies, and their interests include Hip Hop and R&B, sneaker culture, hypebeast culture, and sports

 

TONE: Lighthearted & relatable

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your budget & production plan MUST account for the Chime team & Tongal to monitor production remotely on the day(s) of production.
• If a Chime card is shown, the Visa logo must be visible, and not obstructed in any way. 

 

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal up to $20,000. The Sponsor is interested in seeing tiered pricing options, so please feel free to submit various versions of your pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit bid, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

 

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, and we're now requiring a COVID safety protocol plan for all relevant productions. 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 produce the content listed out 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, both in terms of what we can expect to see, and how you’ll make it. 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.
  
  
• BID (iREQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. The Sponsor would like each producer to create all of the videos listed in the Deliverables section within a total budget range of up to $20,000. Please ensure that your budget factors in appropriate COVID safety protocols (i.e. testing, PPE, cleaning supplies, backup talent, etc.). You can download the budget template here.
  
  
• COVID PROTOCOL (REQUIRED): Please let us know your team’s COVID safety protocols for production. If you’re doing everything yourself, or your team will be working 100% remotely, let us know that this won’t apply. Otherwise, at the very minimum, your safety plan must include information about:
  • What city and state you plan to film in
  • Whether you are filming interiors or exteriors
  • Approximately how many people you plan to have on set
  • How you’ll account for testing, PPE, and distancing on set
  • How you’ll handle talent and backup talent, including any hair, make-up, and wardrobe needs
  • Whether you’ll have a dedicated compliance officer on set
    
    
• 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.