Help develop the look and feel of a robust creative multimedia and multiplatform social campaign that builds awareness around tax season and important tax prep topics through engaging, energetic and educational content.

If you thought tax season consisted of a shoebox full of receipts and one day of panicked math, we've got news for you: it's much, much bigger than that. The more you know about tax season – and the earlier you get started prepping your taxes – the better off you'll be come April 15th. 

Our mystery sponsor is looking for one or more creative partners to work together with them to build out the structure, look, feel, and creative direction for an entire multi-platform campaign. This campaign will be equal parts educational, encouraging, and entertaining, with the goal of informing and engaging pretty much everyone, because the sponsor wants to help more people become savvier about their taxes and the benefits of doing them properly.

Ultimately, this will involve a TON of unique content, and that content will be deployed on a daily basis in multiple forms (e.g. video, gifs, stills, memes, etc.), and with multiple platforms (e.g. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, potentially broadcast, etc.). Ideally, if you develop the creative strategy here, we want you to be the main driver of that content creation, but we do expect that we'll need to put together a small collective of other filmmakers, animators, and designers to be able to generate all of the different assets that will be needed for the campaign. 

We can't publicly share all of the details, so we're first going to identify a small group of creatives/creative teams, and then we'll provide more information. Don't worry about things like the total number of assets or costs right now; more information will become available if you're selected for the Pitch Phase, and one of the considerations impacting the budget is the strategy that you develop. For now, you should just focus on the creative approach.

With that in mind, we want you to tell us why you're the right person or team to partner with us in bringing this to life, and how you might approach a long-term creative challenge like this. Look to answer questions like:

• What kind of templates might you create to ensure a consistent look and feel for different types of content created by multiple creators, and for multiple platforms? 
• How can you create, and carry, a consistent tone, look, and feel and sustain it for 3-4 months while ensuring the delivery of content quickly and efficiently?
• How would you capitalize and jump on trending formats and memes on social before they've run their course? 

If you are interested in being considered for this project, please be sure to submit to the Pre-Qualification Phase. We're looking for content creators that have a diverse skillset and experience creating engaging and memorable social-first content. 

Five creators will be selected to receive funding to put together a full pitch and three proofs of concepts for their vision. Up to three creators may then be selected to move forward to produce content, and also help manage additional creators and content creation for the campaign. All production will be handled within a different project, with scope reflecting your budget proposal and the deliverables that the sponsor ultimately agrees upon.

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

THE PROCESS

• In the Pitch Qualification Phase, we want to see who's interested, available, and has the right style & aesthetic for the job. You'll be asked to introduce yourself, and provide links to relevant past work.
• Five greenlit Pitch Qualification creators will be advanced to the Pitch Phase, and given $1,500 each in funding to put together a full pitch, including three proofs of concepts (two TikTok assets and one still asset). These proofs of concepts should demonstrate how you would establish a style and theme that could expand across a broader campaign.
• The Sponsor will evaluate these pitches, and select up to three creators to move forward to produce the full suite of this content in a different project.

DELIVERABLES: 

• Total deliverables per creator are TBD, but you can expect to create up to 10 assets per month. 
• Assets can be a mix of styles and formats across a variety of platforms, including videos, GIFs, still photography, animation, templates, etc. 
• Creators selected for the Pitch Qualification Phase will be provided with a more detailed breakdown of the campaign goal and background as well as creative topics, verticals, and more key info. 

TIMELINE: Content to be delivered on a rolling basis January–April 2023.

EXPOSURE: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, potentially broadcast. Please review the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE: 25+; eager to learn more about how best to do their taxes, get professional tax guidance, and get ahead of their tax prep.

TONE: Optimistic, insightful, assuring, educational, supportive.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a pitch. Though most projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit pitch, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any pitches via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all 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, 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.

PITCH QUALIFICATION PHASE:

In order to be considered for the Pitch Phase, you must include the below materials in your Pitch Qualification Submission. The Pitch Qualification Phase gives filmmakers the opportunity to submit a 500-word synopsis of an initial creative thoughts for the social suite, and tell us a bit more about your aesthetic as a creator. Four creators will be given $1,500 each to develop three proofs of concepts as part of the Pitch Phase.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing why you are interested in and think you could be a great fit for this project.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your relevant previous work. Please specify your role (director, designer, animator, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• TREATMENT (optional): A detailed background on you and/or your team, your capabilities, and how you might approach a social media campaign. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here. The treatment must address, at the very least:

PITCH PHASE:

If selected to move forward to the Pitch Phase, you will be sent additional information to create 3 proofs of concepts as part of your pitch. You must include the below materials in your pitch submission to be considered for this project. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing your approach to this campaign.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the social media campaign. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here. Your Proof of Concept assets (two TikTok videos and one still image) should be included in this treatment, either embedded or as links.
  
  
• 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 RANGE (REQUIRED): Creators greenlit in the Pitch Qualification phase will receive more information to help them establish a budget proposal for ongoing campaign strategy and direction. You can download the budget template here.
  
  
• 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. 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.

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: 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 & 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. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. BY SUBMITTING AN 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.
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
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. Captions must be in the English language.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. 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.