HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION/TONE:

• 2024 | Merry Christmas from Lowe's

The holiday season is upon us! Soon, homes around the world will be filled with the sounds of merriness and cheer, the scent of freshly baked treats, and the sight of wrapped presents being carried into the home with... Lowe's 5-gallon blue buckets? Well, maybe it won't happen exactly like that, but Lowe's has always been a big part of the holiday season for millions of people, whether you're picking up a few fresh strands of twinkle lights, gifting your aunt an electric lawnmower, or fixing up that drafty window in the guest room. They're as excited as ever to celebrate this year, and now they want your help to bring that joy to life.

The goal of this project is to produce a heartwarming and visually beautiful :15 animated vertical video that helps Lowe's express warm Christmas wishes to all of their customers. Thoughtfully incorporating Lowe's branding will be a key element to this, whether that means we're seeing a Lowe's storefront, an interior view of the store, or something as simple as their iconic blue Lowe's bucket. The logo and branding should come through, and you'll want to weave these elements into the Christmas theme in a way that helps connect the dots for the viewer. This Christmas video from 2024 should give you a good sense of the look and feel that Lowe's is looking for, and you should note that there's no "narrative" in that example, nor is there messaging or specific product, apart from "Merry Christmas," because they're not trying to sell something here. 

This video will go live on Christmas Day, so above all this video needs to have the right vibes, with emotionally satisfying imagery and music that can delight people on one of the country's most special holidays. By sharing this video on Christmas, Lowe's wants to reinforce for their community that they are not just a store, but a natural part of people's homes and traditions. 

In terms of execution, Lowe's is ultimately open to any type of animation for this project, but some form of stop-motion or 2D are probably best, and 3D may work if you're able to pull it off within this timeframe. Creatively, things are pretty wide open, and you are fully empowered to work in as much Christmas holiday magic as you wish. 

It's important to note on this project is fast moving, so part of your pitch treatment should be dedicated to laying out how your animation team is able to work quickly and efficiently while still delivering a high quality video. Since pre-production will be expedited significantly, you should aim to have your concept should strong in your pitch, and be able to give Lowe's an immediate sense of how your video will look and feel. Be sure to refer to the timeline below to ensure your confident in your animation process and delivering within this tight window.

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

DELIVERABLES: There is one total video asset

• One :15 animated hero video (9x16)

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 we CANNOT guarantee that usage is limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• Lowe's social media channels

TARGET AUDIENCE: Current and prospective Lowe's shoppers

TONE/FEEL: Celebratory, heartwarming

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your video must include Lowe's branding into your video.
• Your video must include the text "Merry Christmas from Lowe's!" The exact language and placement of this text will be decided with the client in pre-production,

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. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• 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.