Calling all animators and French fry lovers! Celebrate National French Fry Day with Advance Auto Parts by creating a heartwarming animated video that brings to life the journey of a forgotten French fry in your car.

Are you ready to show your love and adoration for potatoes this National French Fry Day, with your favorite automotive retailer? Advance Auto Parts has an amazing opportunity for animators of all kinds to create an animated video that celebrates the joy, the deliciousness, and the sheer awesomeness of French fries... by following the journey of a French fry that's been lost or forgotten somewhere in a car. Now I know what you're thinking, "Auto parts and crispy fried potato sticks, say what?" But this is our chance to bridge that connection and show everyone just how much people enjoy this iconic food in their cars, and if you've ever eaten fries in your car, then you know what it feels like when one of those greasy goodies slips between your fingers, falling into oblivion.

This year Advance Auto Parts wants to bring the sizzle, the crunch, and the flavor of French fries to life with a fun - up to 90 seconds - animated video. While we are talking about the infamous French Fry, please make sure you are not referencing other brands or logos that often come to mind when you think of our favorite potato friend. You can interpret the story behind this video in a million different ways - especially because you're animating - but it should feel like a "journey" or at least some form of "time passage." 

Think about how the French Fry got to where it is now. Think about all the seasons that might pass and all the things that it might see, as it sits wedged between your middle console and your seat. Does it have a personality? A voice? Does it interact with other items? How much time passes? How does it feel about being forgotten? Will it ever be found? Where is it exactly? Is it the first French fry to fall? Was it separated from another fry that it loved? Was it an important fry where it came from? Are some of these questions ridiculous? Maybe. But maybe some of them are perfect, and it's questions like these that you need to ask yourself. From there, start to imagine how you'd animate, what style you'd take, how you'd frame the narrative, and what tone or energy would work best. You could green screen a face onto a fry, or create a French fried puppet, or show us the anime version of this story. There's no wrong answer... unless you're proposing zucchini fries. That's wrong.

While the primary video will be 16x9 to live on Advance's Facebook and Youtube, they are also looking for an additional teaser video that will play better as a vertical video that feels organic to their TikTok which will draw people in to learn more and go watch the full video. Make sure to include in your treatment how your concept could work for the full video, as well as what creative solutions you could propose for the shorter vertical video to be tailored for TikTok.

We're primarily looking for 2D and 3D animated executions but we are open to seeing how you could bring this animation to life in any form that you think would be the most captivating; that could include puppets, claymation, or stopmotion. We're looking for clever, dramatic, and even inspirational ideas, so let's put our thinking caps on and come up with some creative concepts that could make this video stand out and appeal to all in-car dining aficionados.

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

DELIVERABLES: There are 3 total video assets

• One :60-:90 hero video (16x9, 1x1)
• One :10-:30 teaser video (9x16)

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.

• Advance Auto Part's Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• French Fry Lovers
• Car enthusiast Millennials 
• Secondary target audience: Men, aged 35+ 

TONE: Fun, clever, dramatic, entertaining

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• You may use voiceover, narration, and visual text but it is not required
• All work MUST be original, and should NOT include or reference existing IP, characters, or other brands. Any persons, places or things rendered should be of the artist’s own creation and should not be referential of any existing properties.
• If text is used, all text MUST be placed for TikTok in-feed safe zones in the 9x16 videos.
• Your video SHOULD NOT include any third party signage or logos, unless specifically provided or requested by Advance Auto Parts.
• Videos CANNOT feature anything vulgar or any profanity.
• Videos CANNOT be culturally inappropriate. 

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal up to $8,000. If it makes sense, you may feel free to submit multiple versions of your bid at a budget, target, and reach price point.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid 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.

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.
  
  
• STYLE FRAMES (REQUIRED): Illustrated stills that showcase what your animated take will visually look like.
  
  
• 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.

• BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, and the Sponsor would like each producer to create all of the content listed in the Deliverables section within a budget total of up to $8,000. You can download the budget template here.

• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template 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.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit, and the responsible creator will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. Payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Please see the full payment schedule.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to shooting, filmmakers must receive the below approvals from the Sponsor.

• SCRIPT: This project requires script approval. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your script and ask you to submit a new version. There may be up to multiple rounds of feedback until a script is approved by the Sponsor. 
• STORYBOARD: This project requires storyboard approval. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version.
• CASTING/VO CASTING (if applicable): This project requires casting approval. Tongal advocates for inclusivity in on-screen representation and diversity in casting. As a best practice, please submit three to four options per role, with at least one of those options being a person of color. If the Sponsor does not approve any of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options. Additionally, owing to the risk of disruption from COVID, you will be expected to have backup talent approved by the Sponsor in advance of production to account for any last-minute changes.

For your convenience, we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a treatment, production budget, storyboards, shot list, call sheet, and a music cue sheet. Additionally, there are templates that will help you clearly present cast, location, and wardrobe options to the Sponsor. They can all be accessed here.

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Tongal supports inclusivity in all of our productions and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: Once the Video Phase has closed, the greenlit submitters will enter the Revisions Phase. Filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback. Check out our Filmmaker Resource Portal to access helpful post-production resources like Text-Safe Guides for different platforms, Project File Organization Tutorial, Export Presets, and Captioning services.

MUSIC: If you use any music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's three music providers - Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound. 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 Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above.

If you choose to use custom or original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. Please ensure your composer reviews and signs this form BEFORE beginning their work.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment. You are responsible for the costs associated the hard drive and shipping.

To ensure a smoother delivery, please review the Export Presets, Specifications, and Project File Organization Tutorial in our Filmmaker Resource Portal.

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.