Film a lighting fast and super fun commercial in Kansas City, MO February 28! Working from a pre-written script, create an explosively funny and attention-getting :30 hero spot that positions H&R Block as the home of expert tax help. 

This project will film in Kansas City, MO on February 28. This project also has a super-expedited timeline with final delivery by Friday March 3.

Are you ready for tax season? If you're not working with an H&R Block tax pro, then sorry, but the answer is a resounding no. H&R Block has seasoned tax pros who will do your taxes from start to finish...in person, virtually, or via document drop off at any of their convenient locations around the US. 

Some more tax pro fun facts: H&R Block tax pros have an average of 10 years' experience. They've prepared more than 800 million tax returns worldwide since 1955. And they can handle even the most complex tax situations. 

H&R Block is looking for a Tongal filmmaker to capture a :30 (with a :15 and :06) in their flagship H&R Block tax prep office in Kansas City. You'll be filming with a real H&R Block tax pro and using a pre-approved script (provided to the greenlit filmmaker) that centers around, and culminates in, a fun sight gag. The gist of the script centers on our single talent extolling the values of H&R Block's tax pros and tax prep services directly to camera, before a visual gag reveals that they're an H&R Block tax pro in an H&R Block office.

The sight gag itself is somewhat up to you, but ultimately, the talent should be sharing facts around H&R Block's tax prep services – like we did above – and either the set they're on splits apart to reveal they've been in an H&R Block tax prep office the whole time, or the camera whip-dollies back to reveal the location, or the tax pro whisks away their tearaway street clothes to reveal a sharp, H&R Block-branded outfit – or some other reveal that takes our tax pro from a place of "normal, everyday" to the world of H&R Block. We're open to your thoughts here, and you should definitely speak to the sight gag of your choice in your pitch.

Now, about that timeline. Whether you're based in Kansas City or not, you'll need to be able to work as a local – we've made sure the budget can accommodate that for you and your team – and you'll need to be prepared to hit the ground running, and stay at a sprint, to manage this project effectively. You should be prepared to be in Kansas City and filming by Tuesday, February 28 and your master files are due Friday, March 3. There's no wiggle room on this, so you'll either need to be a sharp editor yourself, and/or have your editor ready to go the minute you call wrap. 

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

DELIVERABLES: There are three total videos: 

• One :30 hero video (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)
• One :15 cutdown (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)
• One :06 bumper (16x9, 1x1, 9x16)

TIMELINE: HERE for the full, and extremely expedited, timeline.

EXPOSURE: All social platforms, paid and organic, including banner video ads. Please review the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Americans doing their 2022 taxes, especially Gen Z, Millennials, and younger Gen X. 

TONE: Informative, fun, surprising, memorable, energetic.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• If greenlit, you MUST be available for a kickoff call with Tongal and H&R Block from 2:30–3:15pm PT (4:30pm CT, 5:30pm ET) tomorrow 2/24. 
• You MUST be able to work as a local within the project budget and on the expedited timeline with no exceptions.
• Your pitch should elaborate on how you'd create this practical stunt/effect to reveal H&R Block branding in a memorable and unexpected way, whether you use one of H&R Block's ideas above (false set, tearaway wardrobe) or you come up with your own sight gag.
• If greenlit, you must work with the pre-approved script, talent, and location(s) provided by H&R Block.
• Client on set: Obviously, the Sponsor will be on set for this shoot. While full video village/client services is not expected, you will need to plan for a client monitor. While not required, we do strongly recommend VTR/playback functionality for the client if possible.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a pitch. Though most projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit pitch, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any pitches via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all 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, and we're now requiring a COVID safety protocol plan for all relevant productions. 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.

The gist of the script centers on our single talent extolling the values of H&R Block's tax pros and tax prep services directly to camera, before a visual gag reveals that they're an H&R Block tax pro in an H&R Block office.

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.
  
  
• 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: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. 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 providers’ names above. 

If you choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your video paperwork.

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. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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. 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.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. 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.