Built by H&R Block, Spruce is a mobile banking platform to help you set saving goals, earn cash back offers, and get paychecks up to two days early. You can even get a $20 bonus when you receive qualifying direct deposits.

Why Spruce?

• Create personalized saving goals.
• Get automatic cash back rewards. 
• No monthly fees, no-sign-up fees. 
• Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.
• Free credit score. 
• Breathe easy with courtesy overdraft protection. 
• No credit check required to apply.

Spruce is a new mobile banking platform from H&R Block, 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 overdraft fees or monthly fees. Spruce is mobile banking that can help you set saving goals, earn cash back offers, and get paychecks up to two days early. Spruce is also available to everyone, but it's built especially for people 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.

Spruce wants to create awareness around their mobile banking services for both current H&R Block customers and the financially vulnerable, with a series of :15 live action videos for YouTube and TikTok that will function as paid ads. Spruce will provide scripts to the greenlit filmmaker, but they're not available yet. However, the messaging is pretty straightforward, so what we're looking for here is how you'd bring to life a suite of engaging video ads, based on some of the creative expectations below.

These videos should combine live-action with some text or motion graphics overlays to drive home the messaging that Spruce helps you be good with money. No monthly fees, no minimum balance, no hidden fees, and fee-free ATMs. We anticipate that we'd see cast using the app in relatable situations and lifestyle settings, but casting will be more of an accent here, rather than a feature: think hands and arms, the backs of peoples' heads. The video will imply a diverse and realistic set of users, rather than creating full-blown characters. To that effect, we also expect voiceover, but not dialogue. H&R Block would like to see a mix of family makeups in the cast: moms and dads with kids, same-sex couples with kids, couples without kids, and individuals with and without kids. 

While YouTube and TikTok are pretty different platforms, with different best practices, we're open to some crossover between the content in your videos, so your treatment should reflect how you might approach that through production and post. Would you grab your phone and capture your TikTok content vertically? Would you grab a shot on a tripod for YouTube, but use first-person handheld for the same setup on TikTok? We know a lot will depend on the narratives Spruce provides here, but from a technical POV, we're interested in how you'd play to both platforms' strengths. 

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

 

DELIVERABLES: There are 10 total video assets and 10 stills.

• Three :15 YouTube videos (16x9)
• Three :06 YouTube bumpers (16x9)
• Four :15 TikTok videos (9x16)
• Ten stills, pulled from videos (16x9, 9x16)

 

TIMELINE: This project has an expedited timeline with batched delivery. Click here for the full project timeline.

 

EXPOSURE: Paid ads across YouTube and TikTok; Spruce's social media. Please review the platform best practices page.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Current H&R Block customers and the financially vulnerable, especially anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; typically 25-40.

 

TONE: Direct, clear, supportive, understanding but not patronizing.

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your pitch/treatment must communicate how you'd approach the same scripts (provided to the greenlit filmmaker) for both YouTube and TikTok. 
• Beyond what's communicated in the scripts Spruce will provide, you must use on-screen text and/or graphics to convey Spruce's key benefits: No monthly fees, no minimum account balance, no hidden fees, and fee-free ATMs.
• Must communicate that Spruce is built by H&R Block.
• While we won't need to see anyone playing to-camera, casting must still be diverse and broadly representational and realistic. The Sponsor would like to see a mix of family makeups: moms and dads with kids, same-sex couples with kids, couples without kids, and individuals with and without kids.

 

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most 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 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.

• 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
    
    
• 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.