Produce a pilot for a chance to create a series of docu-style videos that show the benefits of planting trees both for your home and for your family. 

It has been scientifically proven that trees and plants help increase your well-being. They help us feel less stressed and more restored, improve our physical health, and make us more generous and trusting. So during this unique time when we're spending more time at home, what's a better way to spend time with your family than planting together? 

Fast Growing Trees is looking to create a series of docu-style videos for YouTube that show the benefits of planting trees both for your home and for your family. The episodes should be centered around a family planting trees/bushes (avocado, blueberry, apple) from Fast Growing Trees, and should show the initial unboxing, the planting, and the subsequent care of the plants. The series must also show the benefits of ordering from Fast Growing Trees such as the ease and convenience of ordering, quality and selection of the plants, as well as the level of service offered for plant growth and plant care after purchase. Your videos should address educational elements while hitting key emotional and real-time experience beats throughout, tying the series together in a cohesive story.

Please note this project has a Pitch, Pilot, Series structure. Up to three pitches will be selected and will each be awarded $1,000 to make a pilot episode. Based on these videos, the sponsor will determine which filmmaker(s) will be greenlit to make an entire series. If greenlit for an additional 14 episodes, you will get to set your own budget proposal within the $20K - 27K range to create the additional videos. Pitch winners will be provided product, guidance, and instruction by the sponsor. 

Our priority is to make sure everyone is safe. Along with that, we’re working really hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time. Our advice here is to submit only if you feel you can do something within the anticipated timeline that ensures everyone's safety given today's reality.

DELIVERABLES:

Pilot: One 2-3 minute video in both 16x9 and 4x5 formats. 

Series: Fourteen 2-3 minute video episodes in both 16x9 and 4x5 formats.

• 11 of the 14 episodes should be centered around planting and care with your family.
• 3 of the 14 episodes should be around "checking-in" on the progress of the planted trees approximately 3-5 months out from when the first 11 episodes are complete.

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section.

EXPOSURE:

• Fast Growing Tree's YouTube and other social channels. Check out our platform best practices page!

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Slight Female Skew 45-64; Household Income $70K+; enjoys travel, outside activities, DIYer.  They're no non-sense, want whatever they consume to get to the point but don't mind being entertained in the process.

TONE: Engaging, relatable, to-the-point, and informative.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• For the pitch phase, filmmakers must provide images of their space & yards so the client could get a sense of where the trees will be planted.
• Please note that after receiving the trees, the trees need about a day or two out of the box to be in tip-top shape for filming.
• The episodes must include kids helping their parents plant. 

OPEN BID: 

• While the pilot phase has a set prizing amount ($1,000), if greenlit for an additional 14 episodes, you will get to set your own budget proposal within the $20K - 27K range to create the additional 14 episodes.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit bid, we will notify you in the event the sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the sponsor and the project team.

If you’ve ever been in the market for a tree you know the purchasing process can be a massive hassle. You drive to your local nursery, meander through the greenhouse having no idea what you’re looking at, and wonder which tree could actually flourish under your care. After finally figuring out what you want to buy, you have to get said tree home, but you REALLY don’t want to ask your slightly strange neighbor with the pick-up. FastGrowingTrees.com provides convenience, speed, and simplicity for anyone looking to buy trees and plants. With a comprehensive selection of over 2,000 trees, plants, and shrubs, FastGrowingTrees.com has the right selection to suit any climate, location, and customer’s individual needs.

REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION OR TONE: 

• Think The Pioneer Woman or Barefoot Contessa in terms of how a story is woven into an episode.

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): 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.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the pilot as well as the rest of the episodes. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.

• BID (REQUIRED): Please submit your bid for the suite of 14 videos beyond the pilot.

• BUDGET (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. You can download the budget template here. The sponsor would like each producer to create 14 videos (beyond the pilot) with a cost range of $20,000 - $27,000 for the suite.

• LOCATION/HOME (REQUIRED): Please provide images of your space and yard so the client could get a sense of where the trees will be planted.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS (REQUIRED): Please provide images of who you will be filming, whether it's your family or friends.

• 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 creators the green light to move forward.

The most compelling pitches will be greenlit, and upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment, the responsible creators will receive funding. Please note: the payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. 

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to filming, filmmakers must receive the below approvals from the sponsor.

• TREATMENT: This project requires treatment approval before filmmakers can move onto the pilot phase. The treatment should describe how you plan to execute the videos and how you plan to bring the storytelling to life visually. The sponsor may provide feedback on your treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback.
• SHOOTING OUTLINE: This project requires shooting outline approval before filmmakers move onto the pilot phase. The sponsor may provide feedback on your outline and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback.

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.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the pilot 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.

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: 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 with the hard drive and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post-production, please click here.

1. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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 about 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 the sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray the sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with the 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. The sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
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, 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 a 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.
    
    
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.