When you’re on a team, there’s no room for ego. There’s no going it alone. You train together. You play together. And you win together.

For over 100 years, Russell Athletic has been clothing America’s sports teams at all levels – professional, college and high school. And now they’re looking for some inspirational and emotional Videos that embody their motto, “Together We R”.

Russell Athletic doesn’t want to see brooding shots of athletes running up bleachers alone and chanting to themselves. That’s not what team sports are about and it’s not what Russell Athletic is about. They want moving and uplifting Videos that showcase the power of teams and how they can achieve great things by working together. Take a look at some of Russell Athletic’s past spots in this campaign to get a sense of the vibe they’re looking for.

The goal of this project is create a 30-second Video and an extended Director’s cut up to 120 seconds that runs with the message, “Together We R.” The athletes/coaches in your Video should be wearing Russell Athletic apparel but this should not feel like a typical commercial highlighting the benefits/features of the brand. It should be an inspiring and moving spot that focuses on young athletes playing and training as a team.

While it’s important to show these young athletes in action we also encourage you to explore the teamwork that happens off the field. Teams are built just as much then. Whether it’s helping a teammate master the quadratic equation or jumping in with an assist to get their siblings ready for bed because mom and dad had to work late, it’s all about joining together and forming a collective bond that goes far beyond the game itself.

Russell Athletic wants the main focus of your spot to be a 30-second Video. However, they also want an extended Director’s cut version (not exceeding 120 seconds) of your Video as well. Please upload your Director's cut as a seperate video submission.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Russell Athletic wants multiple sports and genders featured in your Video. Please be sure to include MORE THAN ONE of the following sports in your spot: Men’s Baseball, Women’s Softball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Football, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer.

Also, please feature MORE THAN ONE of the following apparel items: Fleeces, Polo Shirts, Team Warm-ups and Workout Gear.

--Key Marketing Messages:

• Together We R – Russell Athletic empowers teammates to work together and achieve great things.

• It’s not about ego and it’s not about showboating. It’s about training, working and playing together as a team.

• Russell Athletic is the preferred apparel and gear supplier of sports teams everywhere.

--Target Audience: sports players and enthusiasts, ages 12 to 25.

--Executional Mandatories:

• Don’t focus on lone athletes training or playing by themselves. Russell Athletic is about working together as a team and your spot should highlight that.

• Don’t show competing products from other brands.

• All actors should be in athletic shape. For whatever sport they’re shown playing/practicing, they should be using proper form and safety.

• Customized apparel must be featured in all videos (Russell Athletic will provide and help coordinate).

--Tone: Uplifting, powerful, enthusiastic and inspiring.

--Exposure: Online social and video sharing platforms (YouTube, etc.) and may potentially be shown on broadcast television.

--Product: Russell Athletic will coordinate with filmmakers to create custom apparel products for their shoots. It is required that customized apparel be featured in all videos.

This Project will be worth a total of $45,000 and consists of 3 Phases: an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: IDEA  – Tell us your Idea for a Russell Athletic Video in 140 characters or less.  Remember, an Idea (What is an Idea Phase?) is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the Video.  As always, Ideas should be clever and engaging. The winning Idea creators will receive $250 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Videos based on their Idea. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the 1^st place Video, you will receive $1,000, the 2^nd place Video $500, the 3^rd place Video $250) – see Video Phase Payout details for more information.

PHASE 2: PITCH - Submit your Pitch convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Video based on one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase using:

• 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.

• Script (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create. 

• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 

• Image (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, casting notes, anything that helps get your point across.

• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us 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.   

The 3 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $3,000 to help create the Video.  Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $5,000, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $20,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Idea winners). For an example of an effective Pitch, check out Erik Beck’s winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.    

PHASE 3: VIDEO – The 3 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a 30-second video along with a Director’s cut not exceeding 120-seconds based upon their winning Pitch. The Judges will score the winning Videos submitted by Pitch winners to determine the standings for the Video Phase. Remember, the 3 Pitch winners will receive prizes.

--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1^st place $20,000, 2^nd place $10,000, 3^rd place $5,000 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Idea winners, as applicable).

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with four premiere music providers: Audiosocket, Killer Tracks, Epidemic Sound and Music Dealers. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. You may use up to THREE total tracks per Video submission, and they can come from any of the four providers listed above. 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 provider’s names above.

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.  

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won. That’s a potential $1,250 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

1. The Video MUST not exceed 120 seconds in length. 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 you win, 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 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. 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 Sponsor.

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

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

8. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

9. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

10. In the event that fewer than 50 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Videos, as well as 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 Codecto claim your prize.

14. 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.