Get FREE tax prep with a Block Advisors tax pro, and then create some informative and compelling testimonial social content about your experience, highlighting what's awesome about Block Advisors' tailored tax prep, to help get the word out to other self-employed filers or small business owners like you.

*Note: This project is only open to filmmakers who file self-employed or small business taxes in the United States.*

Extended pitch submission phase: pitches now due Thursday 3/2 at noon PT!

Owning your own production company is a bragging right... even if you're the only "employee." Whether you're a one-person-band running your Tongal earnings through an S-Corp or an LLC, or regularly doing full payroll for your crew, one thing's for sure: come tax season, it would probably be nice to have a professional on your side. Particularly, someone who's certified in small business tax prep; who understands the tax form and filing requirements for every state you've done work in this year; and who can even help advise on your bookkeeping and payroll. What you need is a tax pro from Block Advisors from H&R Block - and, incredibly, for this project, you can get free tax prep with a tax pro from Block Advisors by H&R Block. For free. Yeah. FREE. 

Block Advisors is looking to team up with three Tongal creators (to start) who can benefit from free self-employed / business tax prep and, in turn, create authentic, relatable, and engaging testimonial content about your experience. You'll share your insights on working with a Block Advisors tax pro and the benefits of their expertise with other creators and small business owners like you; H&R Block and Block Advisors will post your content, and they'd also like you to post this content on your own channels (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.). Creatively, the sandbox is open: we want your videos to reflect an authentic expression of the experience, but in whatever your trademark style might be, whether that's a direct-to-camera testimonial for TikTok, a hand-drawn animation, or something else entirely. Ultimately your video should feel app-native (so, built for social) which means UGC-style production is fine; clear messaging and an authentic POV are key here.

For your pitch, we want to hear about your production company / creative business in addition to how you'd creatively approach your video content. How have you handled tax prep in the past? What are your financial goals for 2023 and beyond? What parts of tax prep and small business ownership do you find the most difficult, confusing, or challenging? And tell us about your successes, too: maybe you had a video go viral and it brought in an explosion of new clients overnight, straining your ability to stay organized. Or maybe you're not sure how to scale your business to include bookkeeping and payroll as you grow your client roster. No matter what your situation, if you're operating as a small business, Block Advisors wants to partner with you to help you thrive. 

Greenlit creators will be matched with a Block Advisors tax pro in your area, and can work with your Block Advisors partner in whatever way works best for you: you can drop your documents off in-person, consult with your Block Advisors tax pro virtually, or self-file online. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are six total video assets plus either one GIF or five still assets per creator:

• One :60-:120 testimonial video (9x16, 1x1, 16x9)
• One :15 cutdown (9x16, 1x1, 16x9)
• One looping GIF (9x16, 1x1, 16x9) OR Five stills pulled from video (9x16, 1x1, 16x9)

TIMELINE:

• HERE
• Please note we've set aside a window for you to work with your Block Advisors tax pro to prep and file your taxes.

EXPOSURE: Your own social media pages, and cross-posted on H&R Block and Block Advisor's social media. Please review the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Other small business owners and entrepreneurs, especially filmmakers / those in creative fields. 
• Anyone starting out on their small business journey (setting up and registering their business, learning bookkeeping, etc.). 

TONE: Authentic, informative, entertaining, encouraging.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• If greenlit, you must work with your paired Block Advisors tax pro to prepare and file your 2022 business taxes within the alloted timeframe.
• If you previously filed taxes through a competitor like TurboTax, talk about the benefits of switching to Block Advisors – just get all language approved by H&R Block first. 
• Must mention Block Advisors in your content. If you liked your tax pro, feel free to give them a shout out, just please use first name only.
• Creatively, your video should be built for social; clear messaging and an authentic POV are key here.

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal, up to $5,000. The Sponsor is interested in seeing tiered pricing options, so please feel free to submit various versions of your pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit bid, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We're working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and you should ensure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline and budget, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

Learn more about Block Advisors from H&R Block and the services their tax pros offer, here.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed out 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, both in terms of what we can expect to see, and how you’ll make it. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. The Sponsor would like each producer to create all of the videos listed in the Deliverables section within a total budget range of up to $5,000. Please ensure that your budget factors in appropriate COVID safety protocols (i.e. testing, PPE, cleaning supplies, backup talent, etc.). You can download the budget template here.
  
  
• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them 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. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

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. 

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Please note that due to the nature of this project, there are no formal pre-production elements. However, you will need to be available for a pre-production kickoff call with the Sponsor and Tongal teams.

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.

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.
   
   
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 filmmaker.
    
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.