Create a playful and scroll-stopping suite of social videos for Navy Federal Credit Union that highlights membership and its benefits, while leaning into soccer, baseball, and auto racing as the thematic elements.
*This project must film within the United States.*
In a time when every dollar counts, Navy Federal Credit Union is helping members make smart money moves with low fees, great rates, and a full lineup of financial services. As the nation’s largest credit union, they proudly serve the military community with accessible banking, financial education, and top-notch support. Now, to keep highlighting all the benefits that come with membership, Navy Federal wants to create some sports-related content, specifically around soccer, baseball, and auto racing to join in on the excitement and camaraderie that sports inspire.
The goal of this project is to create a suite of short, social-savvy video content that can speak to both Navy Federal's current members as well as new prospective members, driving brand awareness and membership benefit messaging. To do this, Navy Federal wants 3 different fun, relatable - and maybe slightly offbeat - bite-sized social videos, each leaning on the cultural language and themes soccer, baseball, or auto racing. These are brand-awareness pieces, so while the tone can be light-hearted and humorous we still want the main focus to be the brand. In terms of the sports connection, we're looking for some kind of thematic connection, but how you make that connection is up to you. It could be very explicit, and it could involve players, or fans, or viewers, or coaches, or even settings - or it could be looser and more metaphorical.
This project has a tight pre-production phase so please pay special attention to the timeline. The brand is looking to work through all 3 concepts and shoot them in the same production window, but will prioritize the soccer concept for the first round of post. You will then work through a slightly more relaxed post-production schedule to deliver the remaining concepts. The brand is open to having two shoot windows if that works well with your plan and budget. This will be discussed with the greenlit filmmaker during the Client & Creator kick-off call.
Not every video needs to take the exact same approach, so you have a lot of flexibility and latitude, as long the creative approach helps drive the messaging. Messaging will obviously be key here, and to that end, they'll be providing an overview of the important information that they'll want to touch upon for each video, but ultimately it will be up to you to take that overview, distill it down, and craft it into a cohesive script. You can find some (but not all) of the key messaging points in the Background.
In terms of creative approach and format, Navy Federal is primarily looking for live-action, and to communicate the message, you can run with voiceover, direct-to-camera dialogue, or even dialogue between talent. Knowing that the brand is looking for particularly savvy social content, "live-action" can include everything from selfie-style content to green-screen explainer formats with real talent and key visuals, or even more social-specific approaches like Vlogs, Get Ready With Me's, testimonials, skits, or some other recent trend as long as it fits, and makes sense, within the specific sports theme for that video. This is a chance to have fun - so think about scenes or concepts that might touch on stuff like a bunch of friends reacting to big moments in the game, or discussing a fictional team rivalry, or exploring a fictional team's game-day superstitions, or even a Get Ready With Me where a superfan is painting their face for a big game - and then weave in Navy Federal perks along the way.
In terms of execution, this can either be smartphone-shot content with more limited lighting and production design, or it can be (a little) more polished and professional, as long as the core focus remains on the benefits of being a Navy Federal member and the specific sports theme. It is not necessary for you to have a large team or extensive production capacities to execute this project. As previously mentioned at their heart, these videos are brand awareness pieces that will prompt viewers to visit Navy Federal's website. That messaging to check out the Navy Federal website will be handled in the post copy so no need to include that CTA in the videos themselves. They're not looking for overly elaborate "commercial" executions and the brand is most interested in having these videos feel native to social platforms. They do not want these videos to come off as generic, obvious advertisements.
Captions (burned-in, per provided style guide) are required for all spoken content, so please plan your visuals accordingly keeping in mind safe zone placement on social channels, specifically adhering to Reels safe zones. Each video will be delivered in 9x16 and 1x1.
FOR YOUR PITCH: Your pitch treatment should include at least one approach to each the soccer, baseball, and auto racing themed videos. We want to know how you would execute the videos, making them feel bespoke to the specific sport while still fitting into Navy Federal's style/voice. Navy Federal will provide feedback prior to the Client & Creator kickoff call with the greenlit filmmaker to hone the creative approach, and also decide on what topics/benefits to cover across the deliverables. Feel free to include links to any existing TikTok videos (they don't have to be your own) that represent the style you'd be aiming for, if applicable.
Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: There are 6 total video assets.
EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE
RELEVANT ASSETS: 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 we CANNOT guarantee that usage is limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
TONE/FEEL: Engaging, informational, entertaining, relatable, clever, fun, lighthearted.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
AI USAGE: You may not use AI generated visual or audio assets in your final content. However, for the purposes of your pitch and pre-production materials, you are welcome to use generative AI to create visuals, storyboards, animatics, proofs-of-concept, etc. that might help the Sponsor understand your vision for creating the final content. Additionally, assistive AI tools (e.g. object removal, compositing, color grading, sound mixing, subtitling, etc.) may be used in post-production to supplement your workflow. Please keep record of any AI usage deployed in your submissions in the event that the Sponsor requests AI disclosures. If you have questions about any specific usage or tool, please ask your Tongal producer.
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.
KEY MESSAGING:
NAVY FEDERAL SOCIAL CHANNELS:
SAMMIE THE SEA OTTER:
FINANCIAL WELLNESS HUB:
HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS THAT NAVY FEDERAL LIKES FOR INSPIRATION:
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. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.
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 BIBLE & APPROVALS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST prepare a singular pre-production "bible" document with the elements contained below, and that document MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor. We recommend that you use the bible template we provide HERE, or something very similar. The bible can be presented in stages as different elements are ready for review (i.e. it's not expected that storyboards, if required, are ready with your first draft). Apart from the below, you're also welcome to include other key items that you think would be helpful to communicate your plan (e.g. moodboards, lighting, music, shot list, etc.).
Note that there may be multiple rounds of feedback until elements are approved, and 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 Slipstream. 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 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.