Create a mix of enticing and unique TikTok videos focused around automotive maintenance, education, and lifestyle that encourages viewers to continue tuning into Advance Auto Parts’ TikTok channel on a regular basis.

As one of the leading automotive suppliers for motorsports fans, DIY mechanics, and car enthusiasts alike, Advance Auto Parts is known for their automotive expertise. Advance is now looking to find ways to entertain and encourage their online community by creating captivating videos for their TikTok channel.

Earlier this month, we sourced clever, engaging, and unique thumb-stopping concepts from the Tongal community, of which a plethora were chosen by Advance. We’ve listed five of those concepts in the Background that we would love to hear your take on. In your pitch materials, please include five or more creative video executions based off these five concepts, and tell us how you would bring them to life on TikTok. 

For your pitch, we’re asking that you illustrate your creative approach for one or more of the five concepts, so make sure the base of the idea remains, but feel free to put your own spin on the concepts. You should make sure to give a good sense of exactly what your videos will look and sound like, including potential dialogue, sounds, and actions. These should be made to connect organically with viewers in their feed or “For You” pages and will drive viewers to come back to the Advance TikTok channel on a routine basis to see what they are going to post next. We are ideally looking for live action videos, but if you have a thoughtful or creative way to incorporate animation, stop motion, or motion graphics, we would be open to seeing those approaches.

Though you cannot use trending audio from TikTok in your videos, we suggest and encourage you to remake the trending sounds yourself. If you have seen recent videos with laughable audio tracks of a particular line or music, grab a mic and recreate the sound in your own voice. Are music and audio not your forte? No worries, still make sure to submit your video ideas and you can plan to use one of our music providers, or music from the TikTok Business Music Library.

While Advance is primarily looking for one creator to create all five concepts, there is a chance Advance may want to “mix and match” pitches from different creators. If that’s the case, Tongal will reach out to all creators individually to work out a revised budget based on your bid to execute your concepts.

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

DELIVERABLES: There are up to 5 total video assets.

• Five :10-:30 social video (9x16)

TIMELINE: Full project timeline

EXPOSURE:

• Advance Auto Part's Instagram, and Tiktok
• Please review the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• DIYers, motorsports fans, and car enthusiast Millennials
• Secondary target audience: Men, aged 35+ 

TONE: Engaging, creative, humorous and clever

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your pitch MUST be based around one or more of the five concepts selected by Advance.
• You SHOULD AVOID using emojis, but if you NEED to, then use emojis within the TikTok app, and not iOS emojis.
• You MAY NOT use any trending TikTok or Instagram audios. If you want to re-create the trending audio yourself you can.
• If your videos will need to feature music from the TikTok Business library, your final delivery will need to consist of a video exported without music, along with the exact timecodes for where music tracks should be added to your video when posted.
• Videos cannot feature anything vulgar or any profanity.
• All text must be placed for TikTok in-feed safe zones.
• The same talent can appear across all videos.

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal within $1,000-$5,000. Your budget proposal should cover all of the videos you propose to produce. The Sponsor is interested in seeing tiered pricing options, so please feel free to submit various versions of your pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range.
• 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 with a greenlit bid, 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, and we're now requiring a COVID safety protocol plan for all relevant productions. 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.

VIDEO CONCEPTS - Your pitch should include your executional take on one or all of these five concepts:

1. Traffic School: An over-the-top Soap-style comedy about "Traffic School" and the running joke about how it is only an hour long, but full of drama. Similar to shows like Riverdale or Melrose Place. We imagine there is a bad boy, a nice girl, a new transfer student, or even a teacher with a secret. Over the top and amusing, this would be intentionally exaggerated so as not to be taken seriously.

2. Guess that Weird Sound: An educational video that helps viewers identify certain weird noises that may signal maintenance needs. Think about brake squeaking as a sign to change your brake pads, and so on. 

3. Beginner Auto Parts:  We give people (non-auto experts) various car parts/items that can be found at Advance Auto Parts and get them to describe its function. Even if they are unsure, we ask them to take an educated guess for the sake of comedy before revealing the correct answer. 

4. Freestyle Mechanic TikToker: Feature a mechanic or auto expert who can rap hip hop auto-themed tips and tricks for car care. (Similar to the TikTok Chiropractor)

5. Meme the Car Faces: Show the front of various cars that headlights and grill seem to look like a face. Use text or dialogue to come up with funny expressions and reactions the cars appear to be making. (EX: The front of a Ford Taurus looks like it has a sweet toothless grin so you write the text “When you can’t find your dentures but are too happy to care”)

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 character synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 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.
  
  
• BID/BUDGET (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. The Sponsor would like each producer to create all of the videos listed in the Deliverables section with a total budget between $1,000-$5,000.  Your budget proposal should cover all of the videos you propose to produce from your pitch. 

• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
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• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
  
  
• 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 multiple rounds of feedback until a script is approved by the Sponsor.
• CASTING: This project may require 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: 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.

MUSIC: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. 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 providers’ names above. 

If you choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your video paperwork.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: 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.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production, please click here.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 9x16. 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. 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.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. 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.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. 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.