HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEO:

• Block Advisors / Credit Score - This video is a great reference for tone, style, and presentation.

Spruce is H&R Block's mobile banking platform, 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 monthly balance requirements or monthly fees. Spruce is mobile banking designed to help you be better with money and gain financial literacy through resources, guidance, and positive, empathetic motivation. Spruce is also available to everyone, including those 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. For this project, we'll focus on the financial literacy component of Spruce, and helping people understand some core money management concepts while they're on social platforms.

Spruce wants to create a series of six different live action explainer videos with lightweight motion graphics and animated text that break down some core money management concepts in a relatable and motivational way. Ultimately, your videos should encourage people to take a closer look at Spruce and feel confident that Spruce's banking app is the right place for their money.

These videos should be approachable and welcoming, with lightweight production to look and feel organic on social; your casting should reflect the two key Spruce demographics: a single mom (26-44), and a young adult male (18-26). You should plan to feature the single mom character in three videos, and the young male character in the other three. We'd expect to see talent speaking directly to camera in an engaging, friendly, caring tone, supported by lightweight motion graphics, pop-ups, and animated text to help clearly illustrate the topic. While your set decoration and production design can be minimal, it should reflect the character and specific target demo: for example, a starter apartment living room or couch for the young male, a kitchen table for the single mom.

In terms of the topics, Spruce will provide talking points and work with you on scripts to bring the 6 topics to life, but you'll need to create one video covering each of the below topics:

1. How to improve your credit score
2. Types of savings accounts
3. How to get a tax refund early
4. Money saving goals
5. How to get paid early
6. How to pay off credit card debt

You may shoot in 16x9 and crop for 9x16, or shoot both aspect ratios at once. While 16x9 is the hero aspect ratio, it's important that on-screen text and graphics have space to breathe on the 9x16 edits, too. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are 6 total video assets.

• Six :60-:90 explainer videos (16x9, 9x16)
• .SRT Files

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.

• Spruce's Resource Center page, Spruce social media (YouTube, Instagram, etc)

TARGET AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; typically 25-40 (younger customers starting their financial literacy journey; single parents; the financially vulnerable or those who have been shut out by traditional banking, etc.). 

TONE/FEEL: Vibrant, welcoming, helpful, empathetic.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Must communicate that Spruce is built by H&R Block.
• Beyond what's communicated in the scripts, you must use on-screen text and/or graphics to convey Spruce's key benefits, where relevant: No monthly fees, no minimum account balance, no hidden fees, and fee-free ATMs.
• Videos must include legal disclaimers (provided by the brand) and an endcard with a CTA. Assets will be provided in production. 

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.

• 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.