PayPal wants to showcase their products' relevance in customers’ lives, through their eyes, in a positive way, while staying cognizant of the current environment globally – i.e. social distancing, masks, financial struggles, social activism, protests, and the importance of racial inclusion. They want to tell both sides of the new normal so the content connects with the breadth of consumer experience. 

The key thinking is captured by, "Make it easier to make it better." Keep that phrase in mind, and think about how much more commerce is digital, how frequently people are making touchless payments, donating to causes like Black Lives Matter, or pooling money to help out a friend or family member, etc. 

We're going to describe the products first, and then the 5 packages, so you have context as you review them. 

PRODUCTS TO FEATURE:

1. The PayPal App: Send & receive payments fast, manage your money, donate, setup money pools, and receive notifications for everything - all in one place.
2. P2P (aka Person-to-Person): Securely send money to friends & family for free, domestically
3. Money Pools: Collect funds from friends and family when splitting a bill or collecting for a gift or good cause.
4. Checkout: Buy from millions of websites safely, and with confidence.
5. QR Code Scans: Make a touchless payment in-store and in person, using the PayPal App's QR Code scanning.

 

SCENARIOS: The key consideration here is that each video follows a similar format (open on talent & setting, introduce the relevant scenario, demonstrate the PayPal product, cut to CTA footage), but the elements within each video can be flexible depending on what you have access to. For example, in the App Video for Digital Natives, "a backdrop of social activism" could be about making face masks, painting protest signs, or working a soup kitchen, to name a few examples of "social activism." The script that the campaign director provides will follow the similar format, but it will be adjusted for what you bring to the table. That said, you will need to accommodate reasonable creative asks (i.e. adding a 4th actor for a "socially distant picnic") where necessary.

• PACKAGE 1 - App + Money Pool Scenarios for Digital Natives - min. 4-5 talent, 1-2 locations
  1. Against an (exterior) backdrop of social activism with at least 3 other friends, we meet a 20-something who gets a notification from the PayPal app and checks out their latest activity, revealing their latest donations, P2P payments, or money pool activity. Talent can be socially distant, or masked.
  2. We meet a group of 20-something friends, some portrayed as single, some portrayed as couples, each appearing to be in a different locations while using video chat to select a shared vacation destination for 2021, and we see them collect money with Money Pool for the shared holiday. Most talent will likely be shown using a laptop. You may utilize an exterior for some of the talent, but most should be interior. Easy to cheat this and use a single house for all locations above. 
• PACKAGE 2 - App + Money Pool Scenarios for Parents - min. 4-6 talent, 1-2 interior locations
  1. Against the (interior) backdrop of a healthcare setting (i.e. someone dressed in scrubs, or in a setting that can be interpreted as a hospital, clinic, or testing center), we see a parent (mid-30's to mid-40s) get a notification from the app and check out their latest activity. Other talent can be used in background to show activity behind our lead.
  2. A small group of adults (all mid-30's to mid 40's), most portrayed as couples, is collaborating  to collect money for a family wedding anniversary or older parent. Most talent will likely be shown using a laptop, all locations should be interior (we'd make an exception for an exterior porch/deck).
• PACKAGE 3 - P2P + QR Code Scan for Digital Natives - min 6 talent, 1-2 locations
  1. A 20-something shows up at a park (exterior) with a take-out bag of sandwiches for a socially distant picnic with 3 other friends - or - shows up at a socially distant backyard poster making session with more supplies for everyone. Figure on at least 2 other background talent to flesh out the park scene. Be great to cast a couple (or two) so you're not just shooting a wide with 4 people who are all socially distant.
  2. We'll follow a 20-something as they pick-up coffee (or sandwich, snack, ice cream, etc.) before meeting up with 1-2 friends for a socially distant walk, backyard movie, or some other safe hang-out. 
• PACKAGE 4 - P2P + QR Code Scan for Parents - min 5-6 talent, 1-2 locations, ideally a child
  1. A parent (mid-30s to mid-40s) and their child drop off groceries for an older person (60's, perhaps a grandparent) who's staying home to stay safe, and the older person pays them back with P2P. This is likely an exterior in front of a home. NOTE: open to other scenarios that feel similar to this. 
  2. A parent (mid-30s to mid-40s) shops at a local farmer's market stand (exterior) with their child, using QRC to pay. You'll need a business owner for the stand, but you should be able to find ways to shoot tighter and cheat the angles so that you can fake a farmer's market and shoot safely.
• PACKAGE 5 - Checkout Digital Native + Checkout Parent - min 4 talent, 1 location, ideally a child
  1. We'll see two 20-somethings at home (interior) planning a project or home improvement (think frames, plants, art, furniture, decor, tech, collectibles, etc.) and buying something online from a small merchant.
  2. We'll see a parent (mid-30s to mid-40s) at home (interior) buying a new school uniform or school supplies for their child to demonstrate the online checkout.

PayPal is running a fast-moving digital video campaign and, owing to the speed and the limitations inherent in safe live-action production during COVID, they're looking for 5 different filmmakers - from anywhere in the world - who can quickly put together a small shoot to source footage for different key scenarios that'll be used in videos for the campaign. The raw footage from these shoots will be provided to a single creative campaign director, who will handle post-production for all the videos in the campaign. The goal of this project is to source those 5 filmmakers, each of whom will need to select which scenarios they're able to film. Although there are 10 total scenarios, they've been grouped into 5 packages (2 per filmmaker), and each package will have overlapping cast & locations for efficiency. 

If you are selected, you will be coordinating with the campaign director, who will provide you with a script, storyboard, and shot list prior to your shoot, as well as some creative direction, although you will be responsible for casting, locations, and wardrobe. The shoot can be conducted MOS, and there's no need for dialogue. Immediately after the shoot, you will be required to provide proxy video files, and then FedEx all of your raw footage to the campaign director. You will NOT be required to provide any post-production services. 

Creatively, this is about the new normal, and the idea that PayPal can "make it easier to make it better," as you can see in this recent video. The times we live in have been challenging and uncertain for all of us - all over the world - but they want to focus on the little pockets of positivity that we experience in our daily lives, and demonstrate how PayPal can be a uniquely relevant and reassuring force right now. By enabling people with digital solutions to pay safely online or in-person, to transfer and receive money with friends & family, or pool funds and donate to worthy causes, PayPal can make it easier for people to be more in control of their financial lives, and seamlessly adapt to the new ways of living. 

Please carefully review the 5 scenario packages in the Background / Additional Details. You will be required to provide some casting & location options for your chosen package in your pitch. You may pitch for multiple packages, but you will only be greenlit for one.

PROCESS: 

1. Once greenlit, you will enter pre-production to ensure that all casting, wardrobe & location choices are approved by the Sponsor. You may use the same cast & locations in both scenarios.
2. A joint kick-off call will be set to coordinate production between you, the other filmmakers, and the creative campaign director. 
3. You will be provided with a script, storyboard, and shot list, as well as camera specs, and a framing guide to confirm all content you will need to capture.
4. Once all locations, casting & wardrobe are approved, you will be cleared to capture footage between 8/22-8/23. 
5. You will be responsible for sending all footage to your creative campaign director by 6AM PT on 8/24. 
6. You will be responsible for sending all talent, location & art releases (where applicable) to Tongal by 8/25. 

 

DELIVERABLES: All raw footage

 

TIMELINE: 

• NOTE that this timeline is EXTREMELY RAPID and will require coordination with Tongal & the creative campaign director
• For the full project timeline please see the Assets section.

 

EXPOSURE:

• Videos will be distributed across multiple channels and platforms in 4 markets: US, UK, France, and Germany
• Most non-broadcast digital platforms will see exposure, including: Instagram (key social focus), Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, YouTube Pre-Roll, website, within emails, as well as other owned channels and paid media. 
• Please review the platform best practices page.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Digital Natives aka Young Professionals - They're under 30, and have always enjoyed a digital first life. They may view PayPal as a utility, rather than an accessory to an easier life.
• Parents - They represent a wider age range, early 30's to mid-40’s, but they have different concerns now they are starting and raising families. They've come to PayPal through a need to engage with digital commerce, or send money, and they use digital payments both for themselves, and on behalf of their children.

 

TONE:

• For the footage: Positive, relatable, authentic, inclusive, optimistic, humble, clever - with a hint of charm and wit.
• The brand itself values: integrity, trust, respect, empathy, collaboration, inclusion
• Footage should feel like intimate, professional UGC (aka user-generated content).

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Given the international nature of the campaign, we are looking for footage and cast that feels diverse and global, but doesn't feel too closely tied to any identifiable location.
• All footage MUST adhere to the camera specs, shot list, and framing guide to be provided by the creative campaign director
• Footage should carefully reflect social distancing guidelines and not show (or dwell) on activity that demonstrates risky behavior.
• While you don't have to do any editing, we will need you to organize your footage by video and scene so an editor can easily piece it together.  
• Must film at 23.98 frames per second, with minimum camera specs at:
  • 1920x1080 active frame capture
  • 2.1 megapixels with an image sensor that is equal to or larger than a 1/2.0 inch class sensor
  • 4:2:2 color sampling
  • 50 Mbs for MPEG 2 / XDCAMHD 422 Codecs
  • 175 Mbs for DNxHD or ProRes Codecs
• Footage must NOT feature any discernible brands (in wardrobe, on cell phones or mobile devices, etc.)
• Although it is important that some of the content takes place against a backdrop of social and political activism, you should avoid any overt political statements with signage or clothing
• If your scenario calls for people eating while watching a TV / screen, please be sure you capture alternate takes that do not show anyone eating food while watching a TV / screen, as that will be required for some regional versions

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 our advice here is to make sure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

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): 500 characters or less 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.

• SCENARIO PACKAGE (REQUIRED): Please select the combination of scenarios that your pitch is for.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of how you plan to approach capturing the footage. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• LOCATIONS (REQUIRED): Your pitch must include your proposals of the locations you would be looking to film in. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (REQUIRED): Your pitch must include your proposed casting choices for your chosen scenarios.
  
  
• 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.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website 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. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
7. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.