Create a suite of six different empowering and empathetic live action social videos that help people understand core money management concepts as they start their path towards financial literacy.
Spruce is H&R Block's mobile banking platform, and it comes with the same trust and support that H&R Block customers know and love – but none of the "punishments" that traditional banks impose on clients, like monthly balance requirements or monthly fees. Spruce is mobile banking designed to help you be better with money and gain financial literacy through resources, guidance, and positive, empathetic motivation. Spruce is also available to everyone, including those who are historically considered financially vulnerable: people who, traditionally, have not had the means or opportunity to engage in traditional banking, or who have been penalized by traditional banks for not having the means to keep up with arbitrary minimums, regular deposits, and the like. For this project, we'll focus on the financial literacy component of Spruce, and helping people understand some core money management concepts while they're on social platforms.
Spruce wants to create a series of six different live action explainer videos with lightweight motion graphics and animated text that break down some core money management concepts in a relatable and motivational way. Ultimately, your videos should encourage people to take a closer look at Spruce and feel confident that Spruce's banking app is the right place for their money.
These videos should be approachable and welcoming, with lightweight production to look and feel organic on social; your casting should reflect the two key Spruce demographics: a single mom (26-44), and a young adult male (18-26). You should plan to feature the single mom character in three videos, and the young male character in the other three. We'd expect to see talent speaking directly to camera in an engaging, friendly, caring tone, supported by lightweight motion graphics, pop-ups, and animated text to help clearly illustrate the topic. While your set decoration and production design can be minimal, it should reflect the character and specific target demo: for example, a starter apartment living room or couch for the young male, a kitchen table for the single mom.
In terms of the topics, Spruce will provide talking points and work with you on scripts to bring the 6 topics to life, but you'll need to create one video covering each of the below topics:
You may shoot in 16x9 and crop for 9x16, or shoot both aspect ratios at once. While 16x9 is the hero aspect ratio, it's important that on-screen text and graphics have space to breathe on the 9x16 edits, too.
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
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 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.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Anyone who wants to learn good banking habits; typically 25-40 (younger customers starting their financial literacy journey; single parents; the financially vulnerable or those who have been shut out by traditional banking, etc.).
TONE/FEEL: Vibrant, welcoming, helpful, empathetic.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
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.
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.
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 REQUIREMENTS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor on the elements below. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until an element is approved.
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 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, click on any of the providers' names above.
If you choose to 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.