Read more about Make it Legit by H&R Block here, and be sure to read the Gerbil Water "Spinning Your Wheel" script, here.

You know how sometimes great, off-the-wall ideas come to you late at night, when you least expect it? That product that would solve, like, at least three problems... if you only had any clue how to create it. Or fund it. Or create advertising for it. Or form an LLC... (or should it be an S-Corp???). That's why H&R Block launched the Make it Legit contest this year, to help aspiring small business owners with the tools to take their small business to the next level – with business formation help and support, branding, swag, and, for one lucky winner, a commercial promoting her business idea – and that's why we're here.

That winner is Cat, and her business? Gerbil Water, a gerbil-style gravity water bottle...for humans. The idea for Gerbil Water was fueled by one-too-many "one-too-many" kind of nights out, if you get what we mean, where the next day, getting out of bed to get a glass of water felt next to impossible. If only there was a water bottle that could offer up the hydration of, well, water, without the physical work of lifting a bottle or glass to your lips, let alone having to lift your head off the pillow. So, obviously, more people need to know about Gerbil Water. To do that, we need someone with a really good sense of humor, strong comedic timing, and an appreciation of the absurd to bring our :30, infomercial-style Gerbil Water script to life. 

While this should be fun and funny, we do still want to get viewers excited about a small business owner getting the chance to make her dream a reality, so it's important that Cat herself is featured in this spot (along with one talent you'll need to cast), and that's why you'll need to be able to shoot live action and work locally in St. Louis, MO, where she's based. Beyond that, if greenlit, we're pretty open to your tweaks on the script and concept, but keep in mind that this commercial is Cat's to use however she would like; no need to reinvent the (gerbil) wheel, here. 

While this video is sponsored by H&R Block through their Make it Legit campaign, your commercial is for and about Gerbil Water, the product. For your pitch, we'd like you to walk us through how you'd bring the script to life. That should include your thoughts on casting for the non-Cat talent, any small script tweaks or thoughts on set design and styling, more ways to drive home the absurdity and the tongue-in-cheek humor, and anything else you think you and your team, specifically, can bring to the table. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are two total video assets.

• One :30 hero video (16x9, 9x16)

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.

• Gerbil Water social media; specific uses and platforms have not been confirmed yet, but wherever Cat wants to promote her business. 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Small business owners, Millennials, Gen Z. 

TONE/FEEL: Humorous, tongue-in-cheek, celebratory, exciting.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• You should anticipate shooting in St. Louis, MO, and must be able to work as a local; no additional budget for travel will be provided.
• You may not contact Cat directly or outside of this project. 
• You may not use third party products or branding. 
• For any graphics, titles, and on-screen text, you must use the branding and design elements that H&R Block has created for Gerbil Water; those will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker.

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.