SCRIPT FOR ON SCREEN TEXT: 

Stress and worry about money are real, but taking small steps within your control can help with your financial health and your mental wellbeing. 

• Set financial boundaries. A budget can feel overwhelming but establishing limits on what you spend and save can be empowering. Knowing your boundaries can make it easier to say "no" to too much spending.
• Keep the right pulse on finances. Checking your accounts too often or avoiding checking them altogether can cause anxiety. Understand what triggers your stress and make a plan to check in at designated times, putting more control in your hands.
• Unlock the power of help and helpful tools. Whether it's getting advice from a friend or leaning on technology, seeking help can take away from significant stress. Think about the choices you have when it comes to your money and seek out options, like Spruce, that can work with you and your finances.
• Practice self-compassion. Like with many things, developing new habits can take time. Don't beat yourself up if your finances aren't picture perfect right now or if you have a setback. Know that many others have been in that spot before and that things can get better.

*Spruce^SM Spending and Savings Accounts established at, and debit card issued by, Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

PAST VIDEOS FOR REFERENCE: Check out these Spruce videos made on Tongal last year for a sense of style and tone: 

• Spruce Provider :15 – a more detailed animation approach
• Spruce Rookie :15 – a motion graphics-led approach

Whether you're a single parent or a young adult, thinking about money and finances can be really stressful. Spruce – a mobile banking app from H&R Block – truly cares about their users' mental wellbeing, as much as their financial health, and has created a bunch of resources to help people be better with money. Paired with guidance and positive motivation, Spruce actively works to ensure that their users feel empowered and in empathetic hands. 

However, this project is not actually about Spruce, and Spruce should not be the focus of your video. Instead, using the provided script provided in the Background, we want you to create a :60-:90 video that clearly communicates some universally helpful tips for anyone stressing about money or other financial concerns. Viewers should feel like they, and their financial situation, are seen and understood, and that there's help available to anyone who needs it, starting with tips for asserting more control over your money stresses.

This project is going to move quickly, so we're really looking for a creator who can drive home the messaging in a clear and empathetic way, with engaging animation and/or motion graphics and text overlays that fit Spruce's brand style (past work examples are also in the Background). 

 

For your pitch, given the tight timing, we'd recommend including some example frames or even rough storyboards, but otherwise, for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

 

DELIVERABLES: One :60-:90 video (16x9)

 

TIMELINE: HERE. Please note this is an expedited timeline.

 

EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below. You should review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices page.

• YouTube
• Spruce's website, including their Resource Center.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; typically 20-50, low to moderate income, with short- and long-term financial goals.

 

TONE:  Direct, clear, empathetic, supportive, understanding but not patronizing. Calming and caring.

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• There should be NO voiceover; Spruce is looking for a video that communicates information through strong, clear, empathetic visuals. 
• The video should not feel like a commercial, or feel overly branded.
• You MUST use the provided script, but you can make changes to shorten the script. It should still be conversational, similar to the way it's written now, and you have to hit the key points as they're laid out. This should help in a bit when you're thinking about timing, but importantly, this is still a text-driven video.
• The greenlit creator will be provided access to Spruce's style guide and icon library for use in their video.
• Ultimately, your video should make people feel like they and their financial situation are seen. 
• The below text MUST be included at the bottom of the screen for a few seconds once Spruce is mentioned:
  • SpruceSM Spending and Savings Accounts established at, and debit card issued by, Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. 

 

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will 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 the project team.

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.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• 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. 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.
   
   
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 filmmaker.
   
   
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.