Inspire families to Discover the Forest in their neighborhood through a creative and shareable 1 to 2 minute Video that drives parents to find a forest near them.

To many people, forests feel like a distant wonder… but to many children, forests belong to pure fantasy, where they are filled with things that seem to exist outside the realm of our reality. Forests in fiction are full of adventure, danger, discovery, enchantment, escape, temptation… they can offer shelter and a new life, or danger and sudden death. But, while it is true that forests are certainly magical, forests are definitely NOT distant, or fantasy.

In fact, urban forests, woods, green spaces, and parks are closer than most people think, and they’re full of real trees and real wonders, with many of the same benefits as the large wilderness areas that usually come to mind. Every neighborhood has a naturehood, and this is what’s at the heart of the Discover the Forest campaign – a joint creative effort between the US Forest Service and the Ad Council aimed at inspiring families to find the forest in their very own neighborhoods. The US Forest Service and the Ad Council want people to experience nature with the goal of developing nature enthusiasts and future stewards of the land, and to motivate these folks, they want to highlight the benefits that being outdoors can provide to children – things like improving imagination and creativity, and providing more family-bonding time and relaxation. 

The campaign originally launched in 2009 and over the years has taken different creative approaches ranging from a focus on “unplugging” from technology to exploring the idea of forests being a place of unrestricted imagination. Most recently, the campaign has focused on making people aware of urban forests, and driving them to DiscoverTheForest.org to use the zip code search tool and find a forest near their family. Now Tongal, it’s your job to help continue the campaign and bring people into the woods, especially as we near “National Get Outdoors Day” in June.

Find out more in the details below…

Inspire families to Discover the Forest in their neighborhood through a creative and shareable 1 to 2 minute Video along with a 30-second cut-down that motivates parents to find a forest near them. Your Video should have the dual goal of creating something that is genuinely shareable and engaging, as well as something that can drive parents to DiscoverTheForest.org to use their zip code search tool and locate a forest near them and their family. You should look to produce a Video that will make an emotional connection with parents, and while that could certainly be humorous, you should lean towards inspirational, motivational, beautiful, and almost anthemic; with messaging on the theme of kids developing a connection to nature, and communicating the idea that forests are closer than you think.

While it may seem obvious to focus on the contrast between the over-connected “digital world” and the natural world, don’t get caught up in that. They are actually open to Ideas that integrate technological elements with an exploration of the forest.  It’s more important that parents and their children get outdoors, than avoid technology completely.

For PSA’s, Videos and Social Content from their previous campaigns, check out:

https://www.youtube.com/user/discovertheforest

*Filmmakers – this includes Script Approval and Casting Approval, and will require a 2D animated end card with the call to action. The Pitch Winner will be required to send a Script for the Ad Council and The Forest Service teams to review before filming.  You will also be required to present several casting options for each of the lead roles in your spot, along with your recommendations. 

*NOTE: There will be extended review periods between the close of the Idea and Pitch Phases, and when a winner is selected. 

--Key Marketing Messages:

• Every Neighborhood has a Naturehood. Discover Yours. Find a forest near you at DiscoverTheForest.org. 

--Executional Mandatories & Considerations:

• Must show families engaged in some sort of outdoor activity, preferably in a local forest, green space, or park with forested area.  Playing on the playground of a manicured park alone would NOT work.
• The Video should direct consumers to DiscoverTheForest.org, to find a forest near them. The URL language is fixed (“Go to DiscoverTheForest.org to find a forest near you), but the supplemental call to action is flexible.
• Additionally, it’s encouraged that the Video also show parents how to use the zip code search tool on the DiscoverTheForest.org homepage, and how parents can use it to more easily plan trips to the forest.
• Children shown should be in the 8-12 age range.
• Ability to show range of ethnicities preferred, but not exactly mandatory.

--What to Avoid:

• Stay away from mentioning Parks over (or without) Forests – while forests exist in parks, and the campaign certainly support folks visiting their local parks, the campaign is an effort of the US Forest Service, so forests should be emphasized.
• Kids featured in the advertising should never be doing anything that could be deemed unsafe. All actions shown in the forest should be respectful of the habitat and follow “leave no trace” and respectful wildlife viewing guidelines.
• Important for Ideators & Filmmakers: Further to the caution above about being respectful, any plants or animals, wild or otherwise, that are featured in the Video should be native to the habitat and not disturbed for the filmmaking process. As it is thus difficult to guarantee that Filmmakers will be able to find and film specific animals, please try to avoid Ideas where this kind of element might be central. 
• As this is a government campaign, avoiding content such as foul language, risqué imagery, etc. is mandatory.

--Brand Persona: The brand persona is fun, approachable and motivational.

--Target Audience: Parents of tweens, ages 8-12, especially those in urban or suburban areas. 

--Tone: The tone of the content should be positive and uplifting, showing parents that taking your kids outside is achievable and a good activity for your family.  Concepts should suggest a love for nature rather than just playing outside.  It ideally would speak to parents in an emotional and relatable way, almost parent to parent, that will compel them to want to take action on this in the coming weekend with their kid(s) – and to share with their spouse or other parent friends. Motivational, inspirational, anthemic, beautiful, also being some key descriptors.

--Exposure: Intended mainly for usage on social and digital, including The Forest Service’s own channels and website.

--Product & Assets: They do not have any products but would love to show parents how the zip code search tool on the DiscoverTheForest.org homepage works, and how parents can use it to more easily plan trips to the forest. They also offer activities and checklists on their site that parents can use when engaging with their kids outdoors and preparing for a trip to their local forest.

This Project will be worth a total of $23,000 and consists of 3 Phases: an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase, and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: IDEA – Tell us your Idea to inspire parents to Discover the Forest in 140 characters or less. Remember, an Idea (What is an Idea Phase?) is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the Video.  As always, Ideas should be clever and engaging.  The TWO winning Idea creators will receive $250 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for the Video based on their Idea. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the Video, you will receive $875 total) – see Video Phase Payout details for more information.

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 a winning Idea from the previous Phase using:

• 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.
• Storyboards (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across.

• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.

• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 

• Pitch Video (Optional): 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.   

*NOTE: Though Script and Headshots will be required of the Pitch Winner, they are not required here. That said, you may feel free to include them in your Pitch if that is helpful towards understanding the Video the you intend to make. 

The most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, the filmmaker will receive $10,000 to help create their Videos.  Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in the winning Pitch, the Pitch winner will also be GUARANTEED payment in the subsequent Video Phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $12,500 (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Idea winners). 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: VIDEO – The Winner of the Pitch Phase will create a 1 to 2-minute Video, with a 30-second Cut-down and a animated 2D end card. The 1 to 2-minute Video and 30-second cut-down are both due at the close of the Video Phase. Please upload them as separate videos when submitting your Videos.

--Video Phase Payout: The Winners of the Video Phase will earn $12,500.

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with two premiere music providers: Audioblocks 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.

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.  

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won, up to $500 per place. Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.    

1. The Videos 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.

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 50 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.

13. 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.

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.