Create a suite of four energetic and snappy TikTok videos that drive home the career benefits of taking H&R Block's Income Tax Course to become an H&R Block Tax Pro for Gen Z audiences in a quick-turn project.

NOTE: This project's Pitch Phase spans the July 4th holiday.

Does your job mean something to you, beyond a paycheck? If it does – or if you want your work to be meaningful – then you might want to consider becoming an H&R Block Tax Pro. H&R Block offers an Income Tax Course (at a low cost or even free) that gives aspiring tax pros the information and training they need to go on to a meaningful career as an H&R Block Tax Pro. 

We realize you might be a little skeptical right now, but believe us: being a Tax Pro is meaningful work. Helping people with their taxes can have a really big positive impact on their finances, and that's huge. You can build relationships with your clients and make a difference in their lives. And H&R Block is also a great place to work: they offer remote work and flexible hours, like nights and weekends, to fit around your lifestyle and schedule. You can turn being a Tax Pro into a career, or it can be your side hustle. Gen Z is already comfortable with flexible work and side hustles, has strong financial habits, and values the work that they do and the people they work with, so encouraging them to sign up for H&R Block's Income Tax Course this summer should be a breeze – we just need to create some awareness. 

Therefore, the goal of this project is to create four :15 TikTok videos that feel organic and natural while conveying key info about the Income Tax Course and being an H&R Block Tax Pro in an energetic and memorable way. Your videos should feel relatably lo-fi, like they were shot on someone's smartphone, and should really drive home the values and benefits of working with H&R Block.

We've got a list of pre-approved talking points in the Background that you can build your videos around, so check those out while you put your pitch together. For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: Four :15 videos (9x16)

TIMELINE: HERE. Note that this is a fast-moving timeline!

EXPOSURE: H&R Block's TikTok, organic and paid. Potential use on IG Reels as well. Please review the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Gen Z

TONE: Confident, thoughtful, vibrant, authentic to the TikTok platform and Gen Z viewers. Fun, relatable, shareable.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Must mention H&R Block and/or show their logo in the first 2-3 seconds. 
• Must share the key message/RTB in each video in the first 6 seconds.
• Talent across your videos must be diverse in keeping with H&R Block's commitment to diverse, equitable, and inclusive hiring.
• Videos must feel native to TikTok: think selfie-style filming, lo-fi/cellphone look, etc.
• While H&R Block is looking to you for creative interpretations and executions, each of your videos must be built off of at least one of the talking points in the Background section. 
• Videos must drive viewers to H&R Block's website to learn more and enroll in the Income Tax Course.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

The key talking points below should inform your videos, and can be used individually or in combination to get your messaging across:

• H&R Block is a great place to work, where meaningful work means everything.
• A career at H&R Block goes beyond crunching numbers. It's about making a difference in peoples' lives. 
• Being an H&R Block Tax Pro isn't always about refunds. It's about relationships, too.
• A meaningful career starts here. H&R Block is where expert help meets genuine care.
• You can feel good about the work you do at H&R Block.
• Going above and beyond is what we do best.
• H&R Block offers flexible hours such as nights and weekends.
• Flexible schedule, remote options, extra income.
• Many of H&R Block's Tax Pros treat it as a second income / "side gig."
• H&R Block is a great place to start a career and grow with it.
• H&R Block has been serving clients for 68 years; they are the tax experts.
• H&R Block values diversity and inclusion and believes in a connected culture.
• H&R Block's seasonal positions work around anyone's lifestyle. Create your own schedule, embrace what makes your life unique, and do meaningful work that allows you to preserve what makes you happy.
• Helping others is what H&R Block does best. 
• As a tax pro, you can inspire customers to make confident, informed decisions about their finances, lives, and careers.  

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.
  
  
• 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.

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 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.

STOCK FOOTAGE: Tongal has partnered with the stock footage library STORYBLOCKS, which can be used to source video clips, photography, and After Effects templates for your video submission to this project. Video or photo content from Storyblocks is available at no charge, solely for incorporation into submissions on this project, and content will not require a separate Release Form. If identifiable people or intellectual property appears in a video clip or photo, you may only utilize assets that are clearly marked “Model released: Yes” or “Property release: Yes” on the clip description pages. You may not use any audio.

If you intend to use Storyblocks, inform your Tongal producer beforehand, and an account will be created for you to access the library and its features. Once your video submissions are approved by the Sponsor, you must provide a complete list of all Storyblocks content that you used via our template HERE.

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.