Using live action, motion graphics, or a mix of the two, create a suite of five informative but approachable social videos that help viewers understand core money management concepts as they start their path towards financial literacy.
Spruce is H&R Block's mobile banking platform, and it comes with the same trust and support that H&R Block customers know and love – but none of the "punishments" that traditional banks impose on clients, like monthly balance requirements or monthly fees. Spruce is mobile banking designed to help you be better with money and gain financial literacy through resources, guidance, and positive, empathetic motivation. Spruce is also available to everyone, including those who are historically considered financially vulnerable: people who, traditionally, have not had the means or opportunity to engage in traditional banking, or who have been penalized by traditional banks for not having the means to keep up with arbitrary minimums, regular deposits, and the like.
For this project, we'll focus on the financial literacy component of Spruce, and helping people understand some core money management concepts while they're on social platforms – something that's more relevant these days than ever before, as Americans face new uncertainties with their household budgets and plans for the future. The suite of five videos (16x9) you create will help Americans face these anxieties, empower themselves with approachable financial literacy, and help them feel more stable about the future, whatever it may hold.
Last year, we worked with Spruce to create a series of explainer videos to help break down core money management concepts in a relatable and motivational way. As you can see in the sample content linked in the Background, that series used lightweight motion graphics over live-action video to bring these topics to life. For this year's suite of five videos, we're looking to keep the conversationally educational tone, but are open to exploring different creative approaches and visual styles. We think a mix of lightweight live-action and motion graphics is still the best way to share this info, but how you envision both: what sort of live-action setup, the look and feel of the motion graphics, how you balance the two in each video, etc – is entirely up to you. Maybe your approach calls for more motion graphics, lightly supported by live-action to put a friendly, relatable face to things (similar to influencer videos); or maybe you want to lean even more into live-action but create motion graphics that add an unexpected design element to the series on top of driving home key info. Whatever you have in mind, break it down for us in your pitch so we can get as excited as you are about your idea.
Whatever creative path you envision, though, your videos must ultimately encourage people to take a closer look at Spruce with the confidence that Spruce's banking app is the right place for their money, today and tomorrow. Your videos should feel organic on social, and your casting (on camera and/or VO) should reflect the key Spruce demographics: single parents (26-44) and young adults (18-26). The tone should be engaging, friendly, and caring.
Spruce will provide scripts with all of the key talking points and language, but you should plan to take a creative pass at these to help bring them to life in a relatable, authentic way. From there, you'll create one video covering each of the below topics:
Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: There are five total video assets:
EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE
EXPOSURE: We expect content will be used on the platforms below, but if casting talent, be sure they review our required Talent Release before they're cast, 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.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; specifically, young adults/older Gen Z (18-28).
TONE/FEEL: Vibrant, welcoming, helpful, empathetic. Authentic and approachable.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll 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 project team.
Be sure to check out some of the Spruce Money Management videos created on Tongal last year:
In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period, but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors.
The most compelling pitch will be greenlit by the Sponsor, 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, typically included with the project timeline.
PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor on the elements below. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until an element is approved.
If you begin production before you have received final approval, you may need to reshoot or reanimate at your own expense.
For convenience, we've provided some helpful templates that you can consider using for pre-production materials, and they can all be accessed here.
BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Looking for help? Post crew and production opportunities connected to Tongal projects on Backlot. Backlot includes search tools to help you find collaborators and crew by role, skill set, location, and more, for productions of any size and type. Tongal also supports inclusivity in all productions, and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find additional options for staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.
REVISION REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: Once Content has been submitted and the initial Production Phase completed, greenlit creators will enter into Revisions. Creators 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 music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's music providers: Universal Production Music, PrimalHouse, or Jingle Punks. 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, click on any of the providers' names above.
If you choose to use 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 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, and an account will be created for you to access the library. Once assets are approved for delivery, 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 any costs associated with the hard drive and shipping. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
To ensure a smoother delivery, please review the Export Presets, Specifications, and Project File Organization Tutorial in our Filmmaker Resource Portal.