H&R Block's family of brands are aiming to be the official tax brand for creators and gig workers everywhere, and are looking to produce a big, compelling, attention-getting anthem video to announce this to the world and share how their brands can help creators just like you achieve their financial and business goals.
Whether you're just starting your career as a creator or you're an established production company running your shoots through an LLC and payroll services, there are a ton of financial and tax topics you should be thinking about. But even if you knew where to begin, do you really have time for that? Luckily, H&R Block's family of businesses can cover all of it: there's Spruce for mobile banking, Block Advisors for professional small business guidance, and H&R Block's tax pros for flexible tax prep and filing options. H&R Block is built for creators, gig workers, and side hustlers just like you, and they're teaming up with Tongal to be the official tax brand for creators everywhere.
To do that, we want to start BIG with an anthem video for broadcast and social that will announce our partnership to the world, tell the story of H&R Block's family of brands, and show how H&R Block's brands can help creators just like you – I.E. independent filmmakers or animation studios, side hustler pr-editors, and boutique production companies – achieve their goals. This anthem video will be the cornerstone of a 360º campaign supported by content from many Tongal creators, and should establish this three-way partnership – H&R Block, Tongal, and you – clearly and with excitement.
Therefore, while we're expecting you to be creative, clever, and go big with this anthem video, you must also think about how your own story fits in. It's paramount that you position the H&R Block brands squarely in the lives of creators to establish a natural but exciting relationship: after all, it takes a lot of resources, time, and attention to start a freelance career or run a small business, and H&R Block can help lessen the load on your shoulders. It takes hustle and spirit, vision and passion to do what you do – especially when you may not have always had access to or even knowledge of the tools and resources to set you up for long-term business success – and that's a compelling story. So weave in your story, and don't shy away from showing a little swagger as you do.
For now, don't worry about whether the anthem video will be a :30 or a :60, or what additional content or cutdowns could come out of it to further shape the campaign. Right now, the plan here is to develop your pitches with the H&R Block team so that every angle of the story is being represented and positioned in the best and clearest way possible to reach more creators so that viewers understand and are excited about H&R Block's family of brands and how Spruce, H&R Block, and Block Advisors can be a solution in managing the different aspects of their finances and business. So we're starting with a Pitch Qualification Phase, and four teams will be selected and receive funding to put together a full pitch detailing your approach to the anthem video and how that can build into a broader campaign with work from more Tongal creators.
THE PROCESS
NOTE: For now, the project budget only reflects the total pitch funding for four greenlit Pitch Qualification creators. Greenlit creators will work with H&R Block and Tongal to establish an accurate budget for the anthem video under a separate project page.
For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: While the immediate goal of this project is to create a :30 or :60 anthem video for broadcast and social, the bigger goal is to develop the creative beyond an anthem video to inform a broader campaign with work from more Tongal creators. You can expect deliverables to include 16x9, 1x1/4x5, and 9x16 aspect ratios and span lengths from :06–:90.
TIMELINE: HERE.
EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below, but if casting talent, please be sure your talent reviews the required Talent Release, as it is not limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices page.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Other creators, filmmakers, small business owners, and freelance creators in the gig or side hustle economies, especially those who are new to complex/non-individual tax filing and/or starting out on their small business journey (setting up and registering their business, learning bookkeeping, etc.).
TONE: Attention-getting, relatable, exciting, authentic, informative, entertaining, encouraging.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will 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 the project team.
Last tax season, four Tongal creators paired up with Block Advisors for free small business tax prep, as a first step towards this larger initiative and campaign:
THE H&R BLOCK FAMILY OF BRANDS:
PITCH QUALIFICATION PHASE:
In order to be considered for the full Pitch Phase, you must include the below materials in your Pitch Qualification Submission. This Phase gives filmmakers the opportunity to submit a 500-character synopsis with some initial creative thoughts for the social suite, and tell us a bit more about your team. Six creators will then be given $750 to develop robust treatments as part of the Pitch Phase.
PITCH PHASE:
If selected to move forward to the Pitch Phase, you will be sent additional information about the campaign to create a robust Treatment 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.
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: If you use any music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's three music providers - Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound. 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 about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above.
If you choose to use custom or 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.
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.