Bank of America prides itself on being an advocate, partner, and financier of minority-owned small businesses across the country. Whether they’re just starting out or have already established themselves, small businesses need a trusted partner to help them sustain and grow to their full potential. Please refer to Bank of America's past video projects, such as Yes She May, Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital, Montez Group, 28 to Brush, Mikko Sushi and Cheeky Monkey Home, for an understanding of how they prefer to spotlight small business owners.

Tempestt Young:

Tempestt Young is the founder and creative mind behind Fits4Yoga. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, her passion for yoga and fashion led her to create Fits4Yoga in 2018. The brand's mission is to empower women in all areas of their lives, and Fits4Yoga believes that yoga is a lifestyle that goes far beyond the corners of a mat.

At Fits4Yoga, every garment is mindfully designed to design and empower. The brand uses comfortable fabrics that allow for fluid movement, so you can live in the present moment. Integrity and honesty are two essential values that drive the Fits4Yoga brand. The team behind Fits4Yoga are not just retailers, but also doers. As climbers, yogis, and world travelers, they live and work in the pieces they sell, and they know their products can follow you on any adventure. The accessories are designed to radiate positivity through both their form and function. Additionally, each product is responsibly sourced from high-quality manufacturers, ensuring that they're both sustainable and durable.

Tempestt was raised by two strong female role models, her mother and grandmother, and both women majorly influenced her outlook as an entrepreneur. Growing up, Tempestt watched as her grandmother, a devoted teacher, woke up every morning and got ready to go to school. Meanwhile, her mother was a young single parent who worked in the kitchen of a hotel while going to school full time. These two women worked towards their goals, even when they weren’t in the best circumstances. That mindset and grit resonated with Tempestt and helped her to cultivate the positive outlook and entrepreneurial spirit she has today.

Tempestt Young lives in Chicago, where production will take place. Please do not contact her as part of your Pitch.

Objectives

***Please Note that only U.S. Residents are eligible to submit for this project.***

The goal of this project is to create a 1-2 minute video following Tempestt Young and her yoga apparel business, Fits4Yoga. Tempestt is a passionate entrepreneur who was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. Having first discovered yoga in college, she launched Fits4Yoga in 2018, and the practice has been an integral part of her life for over a decade. Ms. Young was inspired to start her business when she looked around her yoga classes and saw that she was frequently the only Black woman, and that everyone was wearing basic "yoga" clothing that hid people's true personalities. Her passion for yoga and fashion inspired her create a unique apparel brand that expresses her sense of style at an accessible price point. In addition to her yoga business, Ms. Young has a background in radio broadcasting and television production, and she also runs her own production company, CastVision Productions.

This video will be used in support of both National Black Business Month in August and Women's Small Business Month in October, so we want to have plenty of interview content of Tempestt speaking to her journey as a Black female entrepreneur. We are looking to highlight Ms. Young’s background and experience, the launch of Fits4Yoga, and the success that came with it. Through it all, Bank of America was there to support her business as it evolved and changed. Today, not only is Tempestt an innovative and passionate business owner, but she is also committed to paying it forward and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Please note: The shoot will take place in Chicago on June 6th and 7th, 2023.

Starting your own business is no easy feat, and this story should clearly capture Ms. Young’s drive, personal perspective, and professional goals. We want to put Tempestt and her business at the forefront of this story and position Bank of America as a supporting role in the narrative. This will involve filming both an engaging on-camera video interview and B-roll footage that showcases both her business and personal life. By the end of the video, audiences should feel inspired by Ms. Young and her business while also understanding some of the services Bank of America has provided along the way.

During the process of interviewing Ms. Young about Fits4Yoga, the selected filmmaker will also interview Bank of America's SVP of Global Women's Programs. This executive manages the Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women, an online marketplace for women entrepreneurs that provides access to new markets and opportunities for consumers to shop and support their businesses. Part of the interview with Tempestt will involve discussing her experience with the program. The executive will serve as the Bank's representative and speak in further detail about the marketplace and Bank of America's commitment to investing in women through programs that support women entrepreneurs.

We want this video to be uplifting, optimistic, and sincere. Bank of America would like visuals to be cinematic and elevated but still communicate the sincerity of an authentic story. We are looking for that perfect blend between polished commercial images and raw documentary coverage. We want audiences to see themselves in the video and know that Ms. Young’s story is truly her own. Bank of America would like to highlight Tempestt rather than themselves in this balance, and any additional messaging details will be discussed upon greenlighting a filmmaker.

To get a better idea of how Bank of America aims to tell Ms. Young’s story, check out past small business profiles like Yes She May, Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital, Montez Group, Mikko Sushi, and 28 to Brush. You can find out more information about both Tempestt Young in the Background section. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the project forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are 8 total video assets.

One 1-2 minute “Hero” video (16x9)
One :60 cutdown (16x9)
One :15-:30 cutdown (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)
One :06 cutdown (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)
Verbatim transcripts of each person's interview
Closed Caption Files (SRT and VTT)
Ten Thumbnail images sourced from video footage
ADA Transcript (using bank Word script template)

TIMELINE: HERE.

EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below, but if casting talent, please be sure your talent reviews the required Talent Release, 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 page.

Bank of America's Website
Social Media

TARGET AUDIENCE: Small business owners and current Bank of America clients

TONE: Inspirational, uplifting, and authentic

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:

Please do NOT contact Tempestt Young or her business as part of your pitch process. Any filmmakers infringing on this will be removed from consideration.
In working with Tempestt during the pre-production process, all communications should be limited, focused, and extremely courteous.
The greenlit filmmaker MUST be highly organized and have strong communication skills. Remember, Tempestt Young is a client of Bank of America's, and we want to ensure her experience is smooth and positive.
You should be prepared to provide your own location for interviewing and filming.
If necessary, you are required to provide a secure option for remote viewing during production.
You are required to present robust COVID-19 protocols during pre-production, as well as contingency plans for key crew members, since the shoot dates are firm and there is little chance of rescheduling. You MUST have a dedicated COVID Compliance Officer on set.
Production will take place in Chicago on June 6th and 7th, 2023. You will be responsible for travel if necessary. The interview with the Bank of America executive MUST take place place on June 6.
For the on-camera interview, you will be required to have a two-camera set-up.
You are required to ask all interviewees this question: "What would you like the power to do?" Please have them frame their answer as: "I would like the power to _____."
You will be responsible for providing a hair and make-up artist for Tempestt Young and the Bank of America executive. The selected hair and make-up artist must be familiar and skilled with Black hair and skin tones.
Following picture lock, be prepared to blur logos for brands appearing in the final edit that we don’t have permission to use.

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.

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We're working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and you should ensure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline and budget, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

Details

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.
COVID PROTOCOL (REQUIRED): Please let us know your team’s COVID safety protocols for production. If you’re doing everything yourself, or your team will be working 100% remotely, let us know that this won’t apply. Otherwise, at the very minimum, your safety plan must include information about:
- What city and state you plan to film in
- Whether you are filming interiors or exteriors
- Approximately how many people you plan to have on set
- How you’ll account for testing, PPE, and distancing on set
- How you’ll handle talent and backup talent, including any hair, make-up, and wardrobe needs
- Whether you’ll have a dedicated compliance officer on set

APPRENTICESHIP ADVISOR (REQUIRED): 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 that you agree to oversee an apprentice on your production. 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.

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.

Requirements

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
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.
You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
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.