Find authentic and emotionally compelling stories about real female heroes for Brawny®’s #StrengthHasNoGender campaign.

Brawny®, the iconic paper towel brand known for its strength and durability, wants to tell the stories of real female heroes (sheroes) as part of their highly successful #StrengthHasNoGender campaign. Brawny believes that while there is no shortage of sheroes, there is a real need to get more of their stories out there for people to see.

A shero is not some physics defying superhero, she’s a real, courageous, and resilient individual. She’ll always stand up for what she believes is right. She’s not afraid to express her fears but has found a way to persevere through them.

• She breaks gender stereotypes.
• She’s courageous and has overcome difficult circumstances.
• She is selflessness and gives back to the others and the community.
• She inspires not only by her words but also by her actions.

Now Brawny® is turning to the Tongal community to find real sheroes and capture their stories on video.

What you need to know:

• These must be true stories featuring real women who have shown mental strength and resilience when faced with adversity. No actors.
• Story submissions must include a 500 character or less summary and a photo of the person whose story is being submitted.
• The person from the submitted story, if selected, will be featured in a short documentary-style video, and has to be over 18+ years old.
• The content should be emotionally inspiring with compelling visuals. The sponsor would like to move away from just using talking heads.
• Videos should not be focused on making some larger political or cultural statement, the focus should be on the individual’s personal story, and inspired others to become sheroes.
• While the sponsor understands there may be difficult and painful moments within each story they want them to ultimately be inspirational and optimistic.
• Diversity is very important for Sponsor.  The 3 winning stories should be diverse in age and ethnicity.

Please check out the remainder of the brief for all of the important details.

The goal of this project is to create a :60-:90-second video with a 15-second cut down about real female heroes for Brawny’s® #StrengthHasNoGender campaign. 

Brawny® has been an American icon of strength and durability.  It’s the original “Big Tough Towel” made in the U.S.A., and engineered with strength to take on tough messes.  The purpose of these stories is to inspire people to overcome life’s challenges with strength and resilience.

For Story Submitters:

• IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING A STORY ON YOUR OWN BEHALF, YOUR PAYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON YOUR PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION WITH TONGAL AND ANY FILMMAKER THAT MAY BE SELECTED TO TELL YOUR STORY IN A FEATURETTE FOR THE SPONSOR. YOU WILL RECEIVE $2,000 UPON COMPLETION OF THE FEATURETTE, AND YOUR COMPLETION OF THE WINNER’S AFFIDAVIT, IP ASSIGNMENT, AND (IF YOU ARE APPEARING ON SCREEN), THE TALENT RELEASE. 
• IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING A STORY ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE, YOUR PAYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON HER PARTICIPATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE $500 AND THE SUBJECT WILL RECEIVE $1,500 UPON COMPLETION OF THE VIDEO AND THE SUBJECT’S COMPLETION OF THE WINNER’S AFFIDAVIT, IP ASSIGNMENT, AND IF THE SUBJECT IS APPEARING ON SCREEN, THE TALENT RELEASE.
• If a Story Subject’s participation is contingent on a percentage of potential winnings from the Video phase and/or an additional casting fee then, they are not eligible to participate.
• If you are submitting your own Story and are selected as a finalist, prior to filming and in conjunction with completing the above documents, you will be required to provide this Story Cooperation Agreement (Story Owner’s Submission). THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INITIAL SUBMISSION.
• If you are submitting on behalf of someone else and are selected as a finalist, prior to filming and in conjunction with completing the above documents you will be required to provide this Story Cooperation Agreement (Submission On Another’s Behalf). THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INITIAL SUBMISSION.

For Filmmakers:

The sponsor is open to different approaches within the documentary format, e.g. using animation to show a past story told by the subject. If you have an interesting visual approach or unique way of telling the subject’s story, they would love to hear it in your Pitch.

The sponsor is awarding a total of 3 stories and will greenlight up to 3 producers to film them, however, they are open to a single producer capturing more than one story.  If the stories come from different producers, Sponsor will want ensure consistency across videos.

--Deliverables: All of the following assets are due at the close of the Video phase.

• 1 :60-:90-second video
• 1 :15-second cut down
• 5 still images

PRE-PRODUCTION NOTE: This project includes a Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). This means you will be required to submit certain items for Approval before moving onto the Video Phase. The Approval items for this project are:

• TREATMENT  – This project requires Treatment Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your Treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Treatment is approved by the brand.
• SHOOTING OUTLINE – This project requires Shooting Outline Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The sponsor may provide feedback on your Outline and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until an Outline is approved by the sponsor. You can find a sample Outline to reference in the Assets Tab of this project.
• 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.

IMPORTANT: No filmmakers may begin shooting their Video until all Approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your Video during the Pre-Production Phase, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense) so please don’t jump the gun.

If you’re selected as a Pitch Winner, a Tongal producer will email you to help walk you through the Pre-Production and Approvals process.

NOTE: The 60-90 second video and 15-second cut down are all due at the close of the Video Phase.  Please upload them as separate videos when submitting your Videos.

--Key Marketing Messages: 

• Brawny® #StrengthHasNoGender
• Brawny® Stay Giant®
• Brawny® takes a stand for strong women celebrating sheroes of today and inspiring sheroes of tomorrow.

--Target Audience:  Efficient pragmatists:  Warrior caregivers who are strong and resilient, they overcome tough situations with grit and determination. They put others before themselves.

--Executional Mandatories:

• The product does not need to be integrated into the stories but videos will need to start with a “Sponsored by Brawny” title card.
• For the final shot of the video, the story subject must strike the “Stay Giant” pose in a plaid shirt (Sponsor will supply the plaid shirts).  The sponsor would like to use the same ending – 2017 - Breaking Barriers (women holding a little Brawny® roll). 
• Diversity is very important for Sponsor.  The 3 winning stories should be diverse in age and ethnicity.
• The story subject must be 18 years of age or older.

--Tone: Inspiring, authentic, heroic, and heartwarming

--Exposure: Brawny.com and Brawny’s® social media channels.

END CARD: Each Video will need an end card. The brand will provide a section of film where a woman wearing a plaid shirt in the Stay Giant pose is holding a little Brawny® roll. This should be used at the end of each video.

This Project will be worth a total of $60,000 and consists of 5 Phases: a Story Phase, a Pitch Phase, a Pre-Production Phase, a Video Phase and a Revisions Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: STORY – Tell us your Story for the objective in 500 characters or less. The three (3) winning Story(s) will receive $2,000 each – see Video Phase Payout details for more information. You MUST upload a Photo of the Story Subject.

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 Stories from the previous Phase using:

• Treatment (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what’s going to happen in the video.
• 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.
• Script (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
• Pitch Video (Optional but recommended): 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 three (3) most compelling Pitch(es) will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $9,000 to help create their Video. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, all sponsor revisions are addressed, and final files are delivered, each Pitch winner will receive a final payment of $9,000. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines 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: PRE-PRODUCTION – The three (3) Pitch Winners from the Pitch Phase will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will need to receive the following Approvals from the brand:

• TREATMENT  – This project requires Treatment Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your Treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Treatment is approved by the brand.

• 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. The brand may provide feedback on your location and ask you to submit additional photos or to find a new location and submit images for that.

No filmmakers may begin shooting their Video until all Approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your Video during the Pre-Production Phase, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense) so please don’t jump the gun.

PHASE 4: VIDEO – Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, the Pitch Winner(s) will each create a preferred length in seconds (i.e. 30-seconds) Video based upon their winning Pitch.

--Video Phase Payout:  Upon delivery of the final files each Pitch winner will receive a final payment of $9,000.

--Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Killer Tracks 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 provider’s names above.

Tongal members interested in a more customized music solution for your project are invited to connect with our partner Score a Score. Email a brief description of your project (timing, creative, budget, etc.), along with any specific music direction and/or references to their creative team at music@scoreascore.com and include “Tongal Project - Your Name” in the subject line. Their creative team will be in touch within a few minutes to discuss the simple process and options with you!

PHASE 5: REVISIONS – Once the Video Phase has closed, the winning submitters will enter the Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their Videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback. Once the Videos are finalized, the Sponsor will rank the Videos and winners will be announced.

1. The Video MUST not exceed 90-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. 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.

8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled. This project is for US Residents only.

9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

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

11. In the event that fewer than 20 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

12. 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[and insert any additional judging criteria stated in the Deal Memo].

13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Video(s) without providing additional compensation. Remember it’s easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.

14. 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 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 prize.

15. 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.