Produce an inspiring docu-style video for Bank of America featuring Tiffany Sorya and her small business, the Novel Education Group.
***Please Note that only U.S. Residents are eligible to submit for this project.***
The goal of this project is to create a 1-2 minute video following Tiffany Sorya and her business, the Novel Education Group, which provides customized homeschooling and private tutoring to students all over the world. Tiffany is a first-generation American and the daughter of Cambodian refugees. She grew up in Oregon and moved to Los Angeles after graduating from college, where she began working as a full-time teacher and tutor. In 2014, she founded Novel Education Group, an elite homeschooling and academic agency, and is a renowned thought leader and influencer in the education industry. Tiffany lives in New York City, but her business is based out of Los Angeles, so that is where production will take place.
This video will initially be used in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month next May, so we want to have plenty of interview content of Tiffany speaking to how her culture has influenced her educational and entrepreneurial journey. We are looking to to highlight Ms. Sorya's experience as an Asian-American and female entrepreneur, the launch of her business, and the success that came with it. Through it all, Bank of America was there to support her business as it evolved and changed. Today, not only is Tiffany an innovative and passionate educator, but she is also committed to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Starting your own business is no easy feat, and this story should clearly capture Ms. Sorya's drive, personal perspective, and professional goals. She is an entrepreneur who has always followed her own path, and we are looking to highlight that aspect of her journey in this video. We want to put Tiffany and her business at the forefront of this story and position Bank of America as a supporting role in the narrative. This will involve filming both an engaging on-camera video interview and B-roll footage that showcases both her business and personal life. By the end of the video, audiences should feel inspired by Ms. Sorya and her business while also understanding some of the services Bank of America has provided along the way.
We want this video to be uplifting, optimistic, and sincere. Bank of America would like visuals to be cinematic and elevated but still communicate the sincerity of an authentic story. We are looking for that perfect blend between polished commercial images and raw documentary coverage. We want audiences to see themselves in the video and know that Ms. Sorya's story is truly her own. Bank of America would like to highlight Tiffany rather than themselves in this balance, and any additional messaging details will be discussed upon greenlighting a filmmaker.
To get a better idea of how Bank of America aims to tell Ms. Sorya's story, check out past small business profiles like Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital, Yes She May, Montez Group, Mikko Sushi, and 28 to Brush. You can find out more information about Tiffany Sorya in the Background. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the project forum.
DELIVERABLES: There are 7 total video assets.
TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section.
EXPOSURE:
TARGET AUDIENCE: Small business owners and current Bank of America clients
TONE: Inspirational and authentic
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most 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 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.
Bank of America prides itself on being an advocate, partner, and financier of minority-owned small businesses across the country. Whether they’re just starting out or have already established themselves, small businesses need a trusted partner to help them sustain and grow to their full potential. Please refer to Bank of America's past video projects, such as Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital, Yes She May, Montez Group, 28 to Brush, Mikko Sushi and Cheeky Monkey Home, for an understanding of how they prefer to spotlight small business owners.
Tiffany Sorya is a first-generation Cambodian-American who grew up on Portland, Oregon. She founded Novel Education Group in 2014 and is widely recognized in her field for spearheading a fundamental change in the way young people engage with education in the digital age. Her educational philosophies are rooted in flexible teaching methods that focus on students’ passions and individualized learning styles, rather than on the traditional curriculum and standardized pace seen in conventional school settings.
Tiffany discovered her passion for teaching in college, and upon graduating, created her own successful teaching philosophy that transformed homeschooling and tutoring programs throughout Southern California. Her non-traditional teaching styles quickly gained attention as she was hired to be the personal educator for many high-profile clients, including Kendall and Kylie Jenner. With Tiffany’s educational philosophy, her students are able to spend more time exploring their passions and reach career success at a young age.
Novel Education Group's alumni include actors, influencers, international business leaders, tech moguls, professional athletes, and renowned artists. The business continues to grow its list of clientele globally, successfully advancing Ms. Sorya's uniquely innovative education philosophies.
Tiffany Sorya lives in New York City, but production will take place in Los Angeles. Please do not contact her as part of your Pitch.
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.
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. Please see the full payment schedule in the Assets section.
PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to shooting, filmmakers must receive the below approvals from the Sponsor.
For your convenience, we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a treatment, production budget, storyboards, shot list, call sheet, and a music cue sheet. Additionally, there are templates that will help you clearly present cast, location, and wardrobe options to the Sponsor. They can all be accessed here.
BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Bank of America and Tongal support 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 choose to use stock music for your video, you must use Bank of America's preferred partner Universal Production Music. Tongal will provide the necessary login information to the greenlit filmmaker.
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.