We all know about football season, baseball season, wedding season, awards season, but this year, H&R Block – which has been around since 1955, by the way – introduced Tax Season in a whole new way. This marketing campaign helped H&R Block create awareness and conversation around the idea that we shouldn't just be thinking about taxes when it's time to file; the sooner you can start prepping our taxes, and the more you understand how taxes work and your own specific tax situation, the bigger a refund you can get. Obviously, getting a bigger refund is a massive reason to celebrate, and that makes it way cooler and more personal than those other seasons. 

And you know what? It's a message that people really responded to. Tax Season was a huge win for everyone: for H&R Block and their tax pros, sure; and for American tax payers, absolutely; but also for all of the filmmakers, creators, designers, and production companies – including many Tongal creators – that helped bring H&R Block's Tax Season messaging to life across social videos, GIFs, infographics, broadcast spots, emojis, and more. 

Now H&R Block is looking for a Tongal editor to cut together a slick, engaging, and exciting sizzle video that celebrates the story of Tax Season through clips from some of the best-in-class content H&R Block produced for the campaign, performance stats, and a fun VO and/or motion graphics treatment. The Tax Season content should be the star of the show, with an energetic music track providing rhythm, and H&R Block's brand visuals and style should be built into pop-up motion graphics that add some visual interest to factoids and stats to deepen the context. Ultimately your sizzle should capture the excitement of Tax Season while giving H&R Block's internal and external teams some pride in the work they created and the meaningful impact the Tax Season campaign and its creative expressions had in consumers' lives. 

For the purposes of the Pitch Phase, we are including a folder of assets that you can use to put together a :15 proof-of-concept edit to demonstrate your creative approach. The greenlit editor will also be provided with an A/V script, a drive of additional creative assets, and branding elements to build out their sizzle. 

For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

 

DELIVERABLES: One :90-:120 sizzle video (16x9) 

 

TIMELINE: HERE. Please note this project has a speedy timeline, with a rough cut/assembly due by 9am ET on Wednesday, 4/26.

 

EXPOSURE: Internal to H&R Block's teams and production/creative partners.

 

TONE: Celebratory, engaging, and uplifting.

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your proof-of-concept video should use at least two of the provided sample assets.
• Your proof-of-concept should also demonstrate how you'd incorporate motion graphics/kinetic type/on-screen text in a dynamic but organic way that fits the H&R Block brand.

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 execute this video.
  
  
• 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

• SAMPLE VIDEO (REQUIRED): Utilizing the provided assets, please provide a :15 sample video demonstrating your approach to transforming the assets into a cohesive sizzle and how you would add motion graphics elements and transitions to build viewer energy and engagement.

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.