Create a :30 TrueView video for Interstate All Battery Center, a nationwide battery seller, to raise awareness about the scope of their services and products (they sell more than just car batteries, a lot more!)

Like their name suggests, Interstate All Battery Center is a retailer selling all kinds of batteries and offering power solutions. From the biggest RV to the tiniest hearing aid, auto battery installation to key fob/watch battery replacement, Interstate All Batter Center powers your world with Outrageously Dependable® products and people! But don’t let their nationwide presence fool you, Interstate All Battery Center is not a big box retailer: think of them as a small, local business, with friendly experts ready to answer all your battery and power related questions.

Interstate All Battery Center is looking for a video that focuses on their All Battery Center PROs (the in-store team members) and how they can help you keep your family and your business powered up, connected and ready for work, for play, and even for the unexpected. They're your Preparedness HQ. In addition to that, they need you to clearly convey the range of products and services that people can find by walking into any of their 173 All Battery Centers in North America. “All battery” is the key word here. Presently, many people think of Interstate All Battery Center as just a car battery retailer, but their catalogue actually expanded many moons ago, so it is important the video focuses on their current, we-sell-all-kinds-of-batteries-and-more business model. Your concept should also incorporate or ladder up to the overarching campaign idea: Battery Powered. Knowledge Driven, which you can find more about in the Executional Mandatories.  

Interstate is looking for a memorable, standalone video, and they're open to live action, animation, or mixed media approaches. While they want mostly original production elements, you can certainly augment your approach with stock footage if it fits creatively. The selected creator will have access to Storyblocks, Tongal's official stock footage partner, which will come at no additional cost. Please note that you will NOT be able to access a retail location for this video, therefore all creative approaches must take this into account.

Check out more information in the Background, or ask questions here in the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: Four total deliverables:

• One :30 video (16x9) with one alternate version :30 (16x9)
• One :06 video (16x9) with one alternate version :06 (16x9)  Alternate variations will involve the same characters, locations, and script, and will mostly involve small changes that can be handled in post-production, including changes to CTAs, end-card designs, on-screen text copy, and other minor edits. Additionally, depending on where the creative lands, a version may include a slight variation to the script. This will be decided between the selected producer and client during the revisions process.

TIMELINE: Please find the anticipated timeline HERE, but note that if you are selected, you should consult with your Tongal producer to ensure you are always working off of the most up to date timeline.

EXPOSURE:  YouTube. For YouTube TrueView for action best practices please click here.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Broadly speaking, this should be accessible to the general public, but the typical customer is older (45+), Caucasian, and male, but they're working to expand outside of that “core customer” and capture younger demo, with more women, and much more diversity.

TONE: Professional, fun, friendly, approachable.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your video should ladder up to their overarching campaign, Battery Powered. Knowledge Driven. Learn more here.
• You should adhere to Interstate All Battery Center's Brand Guidelines.
• Focus on their Interstate All Battery Center PROs (their in-store team members) – this is a key differentiator vs their competitors - but note that you will NOT have access to a retail location for this video.
• You should highlight product & services beyond just car batteries.
• The CTA should prompt customers to visit the campaign landing page to find their nearest Interstate All Battery Center to call or visit in-person, and it must include that they'll receive a "Free Battery Test" as this is also a differentiator.
• Your video must include the tagline “Outrageously Dependable®”, and this should be used in the context of reliability and dependability. See Brand Guidelines for more direction.

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.

KEY MESSAGES: 

• Make sure customers know Interstate All Battery Centers exists and help them understand the full extent of what they do.
• Interstate sells more than just car batteries.
• Their main goal: keeping your family and your business powered up, connected and ready for work, for play, and even for the unexpected - as your Preparedness HQ.

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 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.

• 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.
  
  
• 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 in the Assets section. 

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

• SCRIPT: This project requires script approval before the Video Phase. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your script(s) and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a script is approved by the Sponsor. 
• HEADSHOT: This project requires headshot approval before the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If the Sponsor does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options. 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.
• STORYBOARD (if applicable): If you are doing an animated video, this project requires storyboard approval before you move into animation in the Video Phase. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version.
• LOCATION: This project requires location approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. This means you will need to submit multiple images of your primary filming location. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your location and ask you to submit additional photos or to find a new location and submit images for that.
• WARDROBE: This project requires wardrobe approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You will need to submit descriptions and/or pictures of your cast’s wardrobe. You must submit at least two wardrobe options per role. If the Sponsor does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new wardrobe options.

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: For any music that you use from a library, it is MANDATORY that you use one of Tongal's three 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 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. 

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 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. 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.