It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year since Robert Half launched the Interview Blunder Video Project … and, still, more and more nerve-racking and uncomfortable job interview horror stories continue to emerge. With that in mind, we are revisiting the campaign to highlight some of the excruciatingly awkward moments that can only happen during job interviews.

This time around, however, we’re switching things up a bit. First off, the project will be tournament style, with the end goal of producing six videos: five Pitch-based and one wild card. Also, the Stories (winners from the previous Interview Blunder Video Project) have already been hand-selected by Robert Half. That means we’re jumping right into the Pitch Phase -- so pick your Story, submit your Pitch for a production budget and get to work!

For those interested in taking the road less traveled, you are more than welcome to submit a wild card based on your own creative entirely, or showcase blunders involving the emerging trend of video interviewing (via Skype, iChat, etc.). From spotty Internet connections to that racy calendar in the background, there are plenty of things that can go wrong during a video interview, and Robert Half wants to see them all.

Create a humorous thirty to sixty (30-60) second video about job interview mistakes; a cringe-worthy meeting with a prospective employer; or an interview blunder that Robert Half can use to attract future job seekers, help them avoid such mistakes and, ultimately, assist them in finding jobs. Above all, videos should drive viewers to Robert Half’s Don’t Let This Happen to You website.

This project will be worth a total of $20,000 and will consist of two phases. Also, this tournament-style process will progress differently from previous Robert Half projects, so be sure to read the following information carefully. Winning Stories will receive a 5% residual payment of every winning video they are used to generate. Limit five (5) submissions per member, per phase.    

PHASE 1: PITCH – Using text (500 characters or less), images (storyboards), video, and external links (to other supporting assets, i.e., your reel, etc.), give us your Pitch for how YOU would go about producing a video based on one of the five winning Stories from the previous Robert Half Interview Blunder Video Project. The FIVE most compelling Pitches (one corresponding to each Story) will be selected, based on the criteria contained in the OFFICIAL RULES, and the creators of those Pitches will receive a $250 production budget. Those Pitch winners (upon submitting their Winner's Affidavit, IP Assignment and video) will also be GUARANTEED to place in the subsequent video phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you submit a video, you will earn a minimum of $750 with a 1-in-6 shot at the $10,000 first-place video prize. Your Pitch can include any and/or all of the assets mentioned above and you MUST include a link to some of your previous video work on Tongal or elsewhere to be considered for this phase. For an example of an effective pitch, check out Sean Clark's The Ease of Painting Pitch. To avoid information cascades, all Pitches will remain private until after the video winners of the subsequent phase are announced. Please note that one Pitch will be selected per Story, so you may want to submit a Pitch for each Story in order to increase your chances of placing. Alternatively, even if you don’t win the Pitch Phase or choose not to create a Pitch, you will still have the opportunity to create a “wild card” Video not based on any of the winning content from in the subsequent Phase. 

PHASE 2: VIDEO – Winning Pitch creators from the previous phase will utilize their $250 advance to create a 30-60 second video about job interview blunders based upon their winning materials from the previous phase. All other creators are invited to enter a “wild card” submission that’s not based on any winning material from the previous phase. Remember, the FIVE Pitch winners are GUARANTEED prizes, as is ONE of the non-pitch video creators. Additionally, winning Stories will receive a 5% residual payment of every winning video they are used to generate. If you are submitting a wild card, you may want to focus your creative energy on something related to a video interview blunder. With more companies conducting interviews via Skype and similar services than ever before, it is an especially ripe area for creative interpretation.

--Target Audience: Professional-level job seekers.

--Key Marketing Messages: Register with one of Robert Half’s staffing divisions, and we can make your job search easier and more effective. Don’t let a blunder derail your job search. Call in the experts. 

--Music: Tongal has partnered with Audiosocket, a boutique music licensing agency representing more than 1,400 emerging bands, composers and record labels. Audiosocket tracks will be available to Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Tongal members' submissions to the Robert Half project. Tongal members are encouraged to browse the Audiosocket catalog, available at http://audiosocket.com. If you are interested in using a track from the Audiosocket catalog, as described above, please email music@tongal.com for account and password info, which will allow for the download of up to three tracks.

--Exposure: Robert Half is looking for content for our career bloopers video series, Don’t Let This Happen to You, which includes winning videos from Robert Half’s previous projects with Tongal. The best videos from the Interview Blunder Video Project Redux Project may be used for the video series, which is being promoted via a worldwide marketing and public relations campaign.

--Releases: Please note that winning video creators will be required to provide Talent, Location and Music Releases for any performers, locations or musical assets appearing in the video upon request. Just a tip, the best way to go about securing releases is on the day of shooting to avoid chasing people down afterward. We have created a .zip containing all of these releases available on the Project Files tab. 

--Delivery: Also note that winning video creators will be required to provide an uncompressed QuickTime .mov file in either Animation or ProRes 422 codecs at either 1920x1080 or 1280x720 upon request.

1. Videos MUST not exceed 60 seconds in length. Preferred format 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.

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. Videos MUST use one of the three (3) Robert Half bumpers provided on the Assets tab on this page.

4. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider, 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.

5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Robert Half.

6. Submissions must not portray Robert Half in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Robert Half.

7. Videos must portray a professional office environment.

8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

9. Limit 5 submission(s) per member, per phase.

10. You and any participants must be at least eighteen (18) years or older to enter.

11. You must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec).

12. Minimum 50 Pitches, or the contest may repost for fourteen (14) days at the sponsor's discretion.

13. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, and Music Releases for all assets appearing in the video as well as the project files, editing sequence and an uncompressed Quicktime .mov file in either Animation or ProRes 422 codecs at either 1920x1080 or 1280x720 to claim their prize.

14. Robert Half reserves the right to one reasonable round of revisions on all winning videos without providing additional compensation. 

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.