Produce an informative, scroll-stopping set of paid social videos for Navy Federal Credit Union's Homebuyer's Choice Loan, bringing awareness and encourage viewers to learn more.

*This project is limited to filmmakers based in the US.*

As the nation’s largest credit union, Navy Federal Credit Union proudly serves the military community with accessible banking, financial education, and top-notch home loan options. Buying a house represents more than just the building and property; it’s about taking a major step into adulthood, setting roots, maybe starting a family, “making it” financially, and much more. Homeownership is about aspiration and possibility, but with the current state of the housing market - housing prices are up +50% since 2021, with the average age of first-time home buyers spiking to 40 in 2025 - home ownership is becoming more and more unobtainable for everyday Americans. Navy Federal believes that this milestone in someone's life can’t afford to be unaffordable. With that in mind, Navy Federal created the Homebuyer's Choice loan with low down payment options and more allowing those with less than ideal financial statuses the ability to actually be competitive in the market.

The goal of this project is to create two social forward :15 videos that drives awareness to this option and speaks to the ease and accessibility of applying for the Homebuyer's Choice loan. These videos should also champion the benefits that the Homebuyer's Choice loan offers to their members. They should quickly educate and then encourage first-time homebuyers to learn more with the resources available at NavyFederal.org. Navy Federal wants to create informative and digestible content that resonates emotionally with viewers, and, importantly, that doesn't feel like a typical social ad. Messaging will be key here, and you'll work with Navy Federal during the scripting phase to insure that verbiage reflects the program honestly and accurately. An overview of Homebuyer's Choice can be found in the Background section along with some additional messaging information that you can use to craft your concepts. You will also find some good reference videos that should help you get a sense of how Navy Federal handles branding, and what kind of tone they convey with their social presence. These are primarily brand-awareness pieces, so while the tone can be light-hearted, emotional, or even slightly comedic, the main focus should be on the benefits of the Homebuyer's Choice loan program and Navy Federal as a brand. 

In terms of the creative format and approach, Navy Federal is primarily looking for live-action videos. That said, the brand is looking for particularly savvy social content, and "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, testimonials, skits, or some other recent trend as long as it fits, and makes sense for the brand. Beyond that, if you have an idea for an execution that uses an entirely different medium, like stop motion, motion graphics, miniatures, or 2D animation, etc. Navy Federal is open to seeing it. Regardless of the execution, some thought should be given to just how you are going to communicate the overarching message, which could be through voiceover, direct-to-camera dialogue, or even dialogue between talent. 

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. 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. The messaging to check out the Navy Federal website will be handled in the post copy so there's 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 so please plan your shoots keeping in mind both the vertical and square formats. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are 6 total video assets.

• Two :15 product  videos (16x9, 9x16, 1x1)

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.

• Instagram Reels/In-Feed
• Facebook Reels/In-Feed
• TikTok
• YouTube Shorts

TARGET AUDIENCE: 

• First Time Homebuyers
• Early Career Active Duty (ECAD)
• Early Career Veterans
• Financial Novices 
• Millennials

TONE/FEEL: Positive, empathetic, supporting & empowering 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• If the videos have VO or any spoken dialogue, captions must be burned into the footage.
• If using talent (VO or on-screen), they cannot have current or recent ties to competitors (e.g. USAA, PenFed).
• The videos cannot feature any violence or weapons.
• The videos cannot include any political content.
• All videos will need the disclaimer "Insured by NCUA" at the end of the videos. Additional disclaimers may be provided reliant on compliance and legal review. 
• When saying brand name, first instance should be “Navy Federal Credit Union” after that it can be “Navy Federal.” You cannot refer to the brand as NFCU or Navy Fed.
• Your videos must feature the brand logo in the upper right, or upper left, corner of the screen throughout excluding any end cards used. 
• For props, wardrobe, and visuals you must pull from brand colors, military green & tan colors, and other military cues. Must avoid using the color red in the videos.
• When showing people, they cannot wear clothing with team logos, product logos, retailer logos, slogans, or other messages visible.
• If showing service members in uniform all ranks, insignias, name patches have to be blurred and must adhere to all uniform regulations.
• A non-numbered Navy Federal Credit Union card can be used in the videos, if needed.
• If a Navy Federal Credit Union card is shown, the American Express logo must be visible, and not obstructed in any way.

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.

NAVY FEDERAL'S HOMEBUYER'S CHOICE LOAN PROGRAM

• The aim of this program is to offer competitive rates to first-time homebuyers and provide a fair and accessible path for them. This helps to remove the barrier of needing to already have a robust and established financial status to be competitive in the housing market.

KEY MESSAGING POINTS:

• While others look for the perfect applicant, the Homebuyer's Choice loan gives real people a real chance.
• Homebuyer's Choice loan has lower down payment requirements than FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Loans: 0%-3% vs. 3.5%
• Nearly half of Navy Federal borrowers use a no money down-loan.
• With the Homebuyer's Choice loan, you can have your Funding Fee waived (typically 1.75% of the total loan balance) by providing a 3% down-payment on the loan. The FHA will never waive the funding fee regardless of down-payment.
• Homebuyer's Choice loans have no Private Mortgage Insurance costs.
• Homebuyer's Choice loans have No-Refi Rate Drop available, which means for a flat fee of $250 you can lower your interest rate without needing to refinance your loan. 

HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION/TONE:

• PenFed Home - A good example of what the competition is doing and what Navy Federal does not want to do. AI being used, no connection to the core problems Navy Federal knows first time homebuyers are facing, no emotional connection to the on-screen talent or action. 

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.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

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.

• TREATMENT Describe how you plan to execute the content, and how you plan to bring it to life visually. Feel free to use concept art, references, style frames, or mock-ups. If relevant, share additional information about your team, and your process.
• SCRIPT: Include clear descriptions of the visuals, actions, camera movements, or transitions, along with dialogue, voiceover, or on-screen text, as relevant.
• CASTING: Tongal advocates for inclusivity in on-screen representation and diversity in casting. Please submit three to four options per role, with at least one of those options being a person of color. It is preferable to share multimedia content (i.e. video & audio clips) to help the Sponsor gauge the talent's performance, rather than headshots or resumes.
• LOCATION: Present images of your potential filming locations, and submit at least two options per location. If possible, please include context on where you intend to film within each location, what angles you might use, or how you might dress the location.
• WARDROBE: Submit descriptions and/or pictures of your cast's wardrobe. You must submit at least two wardrobe options per role.

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. 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.

1. 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 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. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. 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 creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.