Tongalers, Sears wants you to make them laugh. We hope you’re limber enough to give yourself a well deserved pat on the back. If you’re having trouble reaching, take a second and stretch it out. We'll wait.
SEARS, that’s right – the iconic American company founded in 1893 – wants to set your comedic talents loose on their latest project, just in time for the holidays.
Feast your eager eyes on the following phrases:
“Ten is better.”
“Paying less is better.”
“Ten is better.” - In the spirit of the coming Holiday season, Sears is giving you 10% back in Shop Your Way points on almost any Sears Card purchase, so show us why “Ten is better.” Ten samurai swords are better than nine samurai swords -- that’s a fact, but it’s just one of countless examples.
“Paying less is better.” – Less is more. Sears believes when you pay less, life is better. We all want to pay less for the things we love and at Sears, when you redeem Shop Your Way points just like cash, that's exactly what happens. Feel free to use non-literal interpretations of "Paying Less is Better." Why should I pay more somewhere else? Someone should fix that. Sears is on the case.
That’s it. It’s simple and open. Sears wants you to riff on their mantras like you’re Miles Davis. You don’t need to feature Sears products. Lots of freedom on this one -- flex your cortex.
The big thing here is shareability, so ask yourself “what would I want to send to my friends?” If you immediately answered, “kittens yawning” ask yourself again, unless you’ve really got some homerun yawning Sears kittens idea, in which case, let it rip.
The goal of this project is to create a fun 30 or 60 second highly shareable video that incorporates “Ten is Better” or “Paying Less is Better.” You'll be able to select which tagline you're basing your idea off when you make your submission.
Sears is looking for content that is holiday geared or non-holiday related that could live year around. It’s up to you, we just want your best Ideas and Videos around these taglines.
If you would like to create an end card/bumper for your video we've included 2 screenshots of current Sears end cards in the Assets tab. In addition, we've included a Sears "Where Better Happens" logo that you can incorporate as well.
--Key Marketing Messages: “Ten is Better” or “Paying Less is Better.”
--Target Audience: Women and Men ages 25-40.
--Tone: Open. Take these concepts in whatever direction you want.
--Exposure: Sears digital channels.
This project will be worth a total of $37,500 and consist of three phases, an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.
PHASE 1: IDEA – Tell us your idea for “Ten is Better” or “Paying Less is Better” in 140 characters or less. Remember, an idea is not a detailed script; it is distillation of what will happen in the Video. Ideas should be fun and shareable. The 3 winning Idea creators will each receive $250 and a 5% one-time residual payment for the Video their Idea is used to generate. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the 1st place Video, you will receive $925, 2nd place Video, you will receive $475, 3rd place video, you will receive $287.50 – see Video Phase Payout details below.
PHASE 2: PITCH – Using text (500 characters or less), images (storyboards), video, and external links (to other supporting assets, i.e., your reel, etc.), give us your Pitch (What Is a Pitch Phase?) for how YOU would go about producing a 30-60 second video based on one of the winning Ideas. The 2 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $1,500 to help create the Video. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $5,750 at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $18,500 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Idea winners). For an example of an effective pitch, check out Erik Beck’s winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs”. All Pitches will remain private until after the winners of the Video Phase are announced and the Project is complete. Keep in mind, if you don’t win the Pitch Phase or choose not to create a Pitch, you will still have the opportunity to create and submit a “Wild Card” Video.
PHASE 3: VIDEO – The winner from the Pitch Phase will create a 30-60 second video based upon his/her winning Pitch, and all other creators are invited to enter a “Wild Card” (What Is a Wildcard?) submission that is not based on any winning material from the previous phases. The Judges will score all Wild Card Videos and the highest scoring Wild Card Video and the Video submitted by the Pitch winner will be scored to determine the standings for the Video Phase. Remember, the Pitch winners, along with the one non-Pitch Video creator, will receive prizes.
--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $18,500 2nd place $9,500, 3rd place $5,750 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to Idea winners, as applicable).
-- Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audiosocket, Killer Tracks and Music Dealers. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. You may use up to THREE total tracks per Video submission, and they can come from any of the three providers listed above. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.
If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.
1. Videos MUST NOT exceed 60 seconds in length. Preferred format 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.
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 addition to the judging criteria stated in the Official Rules, pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the Video based on their prior work and experience.
4. In the event you utilize any third party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider, 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.
5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sears.
6. You will be judged on how well you satisfy the factors contained in the Project Objectives pages, in the judges' sole discretion.
7. Submissions must not portray Sears in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sears.
8. Videos must be in the English language.
9. Limit 5 submission(s) per member.
10. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning creators MUST also provide Talent and Music Releases for all assets audible in the spot.
11. BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES SOLELY THE PROPERTY OF TONGAL – 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 WEB SITE OR 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.
12. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Videos, as well as a copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a QuickTime .mov file in uncompressed, Animation or ProRes HQ codec at 1920x1080 to claim your prize.
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.