Marriage. Mortgages. Household incomes: these are just some of the biggest factors of the American lifestyle, and for Middle Income America – households with income between $45,000 and $145,000 – they can define, or at least indicate, a generation's financial health. In H&R Block's annual Outlook on American Life report, one of the most surprising learnings is that there are actually two Middle Income Americas: one for Millennials and one for Baby Boomers. Yep, sorry Millennials: you sorta kinda have more in common with Boomers than you thought. While Millennials and Boomers may have different lifestyles and points of view, many of their financial choices overlap, and neither generation behaves as middle-earners did even 20 years ago, let alone in the 80s or 50s. While the 9-to-5 job, married-with-2.4-kids-and-a-mortgage, retiring at 65 path might not be so normal these days, the new normal is somewhat consistent, whether you're 32 or 65. You're less likely to be married; you're more likely to live on the coasts vs the fly-over states (sorry, Midwest); and you're likely really, really feeling the impacts of inflation. 

H&R Block's Outlook on American Life is full of fascinating and sobering details and stats like this, and we're looking for one Tongal filmmaker to use quirky humor and an engaging creative point of view to highlight the differences unearthed by the report, in a 1-3 minute video, and then encourage viewers to explore those findings further. Your video can be live action, animation, motion graphics or stop-motion, or a mix of mediums and styles; what matters most is that it's engaging, humorous, and informative. 

H&R Block sees this video as a "conversation" between multiple key entities; discussing, debating, and/or comparing the differences of Middle Income America then (anytime from the 1950s-2000s) vs now. This can be done with characters portraying current and past Middle Income Americans, comparing life now vs then, or with current and past Middle Income Americans humorously discussing the differences with America itself. They're interested to see how you'd take this quirky idea and expand on it: is Inflation the villain of the story? Is retirement, or home ownership, or financial stability the treasure today's Middle Income Americans fight for but yesterday's Middle Income Americans took for granted? Does the conversation take place at an H&R Block office while 'then' and 'now' Americans are working on their taxes with their H&R Block tax pros? 

Finally, H&R Block should show up in your content through messaging that they've been there through the years to provide help and inspire confidence in their clients and communities, but this can be achieved in your CTA card along with driving viewers to the report to read more. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are five total video assets: 

• One 1-3 minute video (16x9, 9x16)
• One :30 cutdown (16x9, 9x16)
• One :15 cutdown (9x16)

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE. Please note the production window overlaps with the Thanksgiving break in the U.S.

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.

• H&R Block websites and social media channels, but especially TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

TARGET AUDIENCE: All Americans, but especially Millennials and Baby Boomers (32-65)

TONE/FEEL: Quirky, informative, entertaining, humorous, relatable.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your video must encourage viewers to explore the report for more insights 
• While humor is necessary, avoid anything mean-spirited or mocking
• Your "then" America can be anything from the 1950s-2000s, but it must make the point in an entertaining way

OPEN BID:

• This is an open bid project, so you'll get to submit your own budget proposal up to $23,000. If it makes sense, you may submit multiple versions of your bid at a budget, target, and reach price point.
• 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 do move forward, we'll 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 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.

• 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.
  
  
• BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, and the Sponsor would like you to create ALL of the content listed in the Deliverables within a budget total of up to $23,000. You can download the budget template HERE.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• APPRENTICESHIP ADVISOR (Optional): The Tongal On-Set Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity to support new & emerging talent in production positions with hands-on on-set experience. Please indicate on the pitch submission form if you would be interested in overseeing an apprentice on your production; your answer will neither increase nor decrease the likelihood of your pitch being greenlit.The Tongal On-Set Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity to support new & emerging talent in production positions with hands-on on-set experience. Please indicate on the pitch submission form if you would be interested in overseeing an apprentice on your production; your answer will neither increase nor decrease the likelihood of your pitch being greenlit. Tongal will cover the apprentice's day rate outside of your project budget, and if you are matched with an apprentice, your Tongal producer will reach out with more information. To learn more about the On-Set Apprenticeship Program and the responsibilities of an advisor, please click HERE.

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.