We spend one-third of our lives sleeping and the key instrument to getting that vital shuteye is the mattress we use. Buying a new mattress is a commitment. Selecting the right one ranks up there with choosing the right car, home, or life partner.

 

With the stakes this high, you need a buying experience that you can trust. Sears, one of America’s most storied and trusted national retailers, has teamed up with Serta, the premiere name in mattress quality and innovation, to create a mattress shopping dreamland—providing you with a wide range of the highest quality options and a professional staff that actually know their mattresses, and can help you make the right choice.

 

Sears and Serta are turning to the Tongal community to help spread the word that your first step to getting that perfect night’s sleep for the foreseeable future is to go directly to your local Sears or www.sears.com/sleepbetter. We want consumers to know that at Sears, you’ll experience a relaxed, haggle free shopping experience at a trusted national retailer and have access to an incredibly wide range of Serta luxury and specialty mattresses.

 

Please read the Objectives section to get all the details.

 

 

The goal of this project is to create a 30-second video that generates awareness that Sears is the place to shop when you’re in the market for a new mattress with specific focus on:

• A relaxed, haggle free shopping experience
• Convenience and trustworthiness of shopping at a national retailer
• Expanded Assortment

 

--Key Marketing Messages:

• Sears is the retailer where you can find an expanded assortment.
• Get 50 – 60% off!
• If you want a good night’s sleep then visit your local Sears or go to www.sears.com/sleepbetter

 

--Target Audience: Young affluent, city dwellers/singles, and newly married couples, head-of-household, 25 – 40;

 

--Executional Mandatories:

• No mattress jumping/abuse
• Mattress must be visible, so no completely dressed bed
• Must show luxury mattress in coordinated bedroom scene 
• Headboards should be included
• Mattress should always be the hero
• Do not show the Serta Sheep or sheep of any kind
• Videos must emphasize the Serta iComfort® and iSeries® mattress lines

 

--Tone:  Convincing and friendly. Light humor is okay but please avoid slapstick and shtick.

 

--Exposure: Sears’s digital properties and third party sites.

 

--Product and Location: Mattress and headboard samples will be provided. If the concept calls for it, Sears will help gain access to a local store location for filming.  Please note that this project is not accepting Wildcard submissions.

 

--Bumper Bonus: In addition to the prizing outlined in the Details section we are also awarding a “Bumper Bonus” for this project. If you elect to include a bumper/end tag with your Video submission you are automatically eligible. The winning bumper will win $1,000. Please keep in mind the following:

• The winner may be asked to perform some light edits on their bumper and send as a separate file.  
• Your bumper may be used in any winning Videos from this project. 
• If your bumper has voiceover, all voice talent must sign a Tongal Talent Release.
• The Sponsor has the right to purchase additional non-winning bumpers, in addition to the designated bumper winner. 
• Finally, you can submit just a bumper without a video, however you must include “Bumper Only” in your video name. “Bumper Only” submissions will not be eligible for awards beyond the $1,000 Bumper Bonus.

 

Other instructions for the bumper:

• If you are creating a bumper please use the files provided in the Assets tab.
• Please Include the Sears low-price guarantee.
• Please include a graphic that indicates 50-60% off.

 

 

This Project will be worth a total of $35,000 and consists of 3 Phases: an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

PHASE 1: IDEA  – Tell us your Idea for a Sears and Serta Video in 140 characters or less.  Remember, an Idea (What is an Idea Phase?) is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the Video.  As always, Ideas should be clever and engaging.  The winning Idea creators will receive $250 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Video(s) based on their Idea. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the 1^st place Video, you will receive $750, the 2^nd place Video $450, and the 3^rd place Video $287.50) – see Video Phase Payout details for more information.

 

PHASE 2: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What Is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Video based on one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase using:

• 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.
• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 
• Image (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, casting notes, anything that helps get your point across.
• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us 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.   

 

The 3 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $1,500 to help create the Video.  Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winner(s) will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase.  So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $5,750, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $15,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Idea winners). For an example of an effective Pitch, check out Erik Beck’s winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.    

 

PHASE 3: VIDEO – The 3 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a 30-second Video based upon their winning Pitch.

 

The Judges will score the 3 Videos submitted by Pitch winners to determine the standings for the Video Phase.  Remember, the 3 Pitch winners will receive prizes.

 

--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $15,000, 2nd place $9,000, and 3^rd place  $5,750 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Idea winners, as applicable).

 

--Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audiosocket, Killer Tracks, Epidemic Sound and Music Dealers. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. You may use up to THREE total tracks per Video submission, and they can come from any of the three providers listed above. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.

 

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.  

 

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won. That’s a potential the sum total of (5% of each Video amount, capping the money possible at $500 per place) in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

 

 

1. The Video MUST not exceed 30-seconds in length. 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 you win, 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. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

 

8. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

 

9. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

10. In the event that fewer than 50 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Videos, as well as a copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a QuickTime .mov file in uncompressed, Animation or ProRes HQ codec at 1920x1080 to claim your prize.

14. See OFFICIAL RULESfor 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.