New Balance is looking for amazing global Authentic Stories of unique young athletes whose inspiring stories embody what New Balance stands for and show that New Balance is a modern, progressive, and inspiring brand for today’s athlete. 

New Balance is a different kind of athletic brand, and they stand for something greater than just winning: athletes that aren’t afraid to be provocative, to be bold, to defy the odds, to try something new, and challenge norms in the pursuit of excellence. Athletes who not only strive to win but to make their mark on the world. 

New Balance supports and champions athletes who are fearlessly independent and lead with character. Now New Balance is looking to tell the Authentic Stories of three exceptional young athletes from the USA and around the world, to challenge the conventions of the athletics industry. Because today, being an athlete is about much more than being talented or gifted or winning on the field; it’s about more than what sport you play or which team you play for. Being an athlete is about paving a path, making an impact, and continuing to evolve beyond what’s expected; challenging the status quo and changing the world. 

The stories of these exceptional young athletes should  inspire other young athletes to do the same and stand for more.

Read on to the Project Objectives to learn more…

The goal of this project is to find the exceptional Authentic Stories of three young athletes from the USA and around the world who embody the New Balance values: fearlessly independent and leading with character. A separate Pitch to Video phase will run for filmmakers to pitch against these three Authentic Stories to create three 90-120-second Videos.  

New Balance is looking for athletes in the high school to college and post-college range, roughly showing stories of individuals who are 16-28. Athletes of all genders and from all around the world are encouraged to share their stories, so long as they embody the New Balance values and are willing to be filmed for a subsequent Video.

What you need to know:

• These must be actual true Stories featuring real young athletes. No actors.
• Submissions must include a 500 character or less summary of the athlete and a current photo. Videos are not mandatory, but strongly encouraged.
• The three winning athlete Stories will be awarded $2,000 each and captured by Tongal filmmakers of the Sponsor’s choosing.
• Three nominated athletes will be featured in short documentary videos showcasing their unique and inspirational stories.

NOTE: If you submit on behalf of a Story subject please know the following:

• Prizing for Stories is not paid until the subject has cooperated with the filmmaker selected by the Sponsor and the video is completed.
  
  
• When submitting on someone else’s behalf the subject must agree to participate for no compensation beyond the Story award. If a Story subject’s participation is contingent on a percentage of potential winnings from the Video phase and/or an additional casting fee then they are not eligible.
  
  

NOTE: Your Submissions must NOT contain the following:

• Athletes sponsored by other athletic brands
• SAG talent

Please read the remainder of the brief for all the important details.

--Executional Mandatories:

• A unique story about a new/different kind of athlete that inspires people and athletes.
  
  
• New Balance is looking for exceptional young athletes from the USA and around the world.
  
  
• Rare and amazing young athletes that provoke bigger thought about what’s possible and what it means to be an athlete in today’s world.
  
  
• The young athlete in your Story submission MUST be both Fearlessly Independent and Lead with Character. Ideally, story subjects will have both values, but they must have at LEAST one:
  • Fearlessly Independent: 
    • An athlete who performs and lives in a way that breaks the status quo.
    • Unafraid to be provocative, to be bold, to defy the odds, to try something new, and to find what’s unfound.
    • NOT a rebel without a cause.  Their actions are done with intention and purpose.
  • Leading with Character:
    • Athletes who are greater than the win – as a person and as an athlete, they stand for something more and set themselves apart with how they play the game. As a person, they lead with character off the field of play as well.
    • Athletes who always ask, “what’s next?”
    • Athletes who think about how they’ll leave their mark on the world and are driven to accomplish beyond self-interest.
• A new kind of athlete who breaks the mold and challenges the norm – included, but not limited to:
  • Stand up for evolution
  • Provoke with purpose
  • Reinvents style, influences, creates, and makes
  • Blaze a new path and take risks
  • Redefine or Challenge a norm in their sport or in life
  • Stand for something more and show a drive to make an impact

--Key Marketing Messages: 

• New Balance supports and champions an independent athlete who stands for something more
• A NEW kind of athlete who isn’t afraid to be provocative, to be bold, to defy the odds, to create something new, to find what’s unfound, to make a mark on the world

--Target Audience:

• Younger consumer, 18-28
• Athletes or those who consider themselves athletes; are passionate about sports; and/or are of an athletic mindset.
• Younger consumers who are influencing their peers, focused on self-improvement, focused on leaving their mark on the world, and interested in real people/youth/cultural topics around the world

--Tone:

• Genuine 
• Smart 
• Independent
• Bold 
• Humble 
• Principled

--Exposure: The Videos that will eventually be created from these Stories will be featured on social platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) and NB.com

--Product: Product samples will be provided for the Video shoots.

This Project will be worth a total of $6,000 and consists of an Authentic Story Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: STORY – Submit your young athlete Story in 500 characters or less. Story submissions MUST include a photo of you (or of who you are referring), along with one of the applicable forms below. The winning Story submissions will receive $2,000 each after the filming of their story is completed. Please read all of the below for details:

• IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING A STORY ON YOUR OWN BEHALF, YOUR PAYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON YOUR PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE WINNING FILMMAKER SELECTED TO BRING YOUR STORY TO LIFE. YOU WILL RECEIVE $2000 UPON COMPLETION OF THE VIDEO AND YOUR COMPLETION OF THE WINNER’S AFFIDAVIT, IP ASSIGNMENT, AND (IF YOU ARE APPEARING ON SCREEN), THE TALENT RELEASE.
• IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING A STORY ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE, YOUR PAYMENT IS CONTINGENT UPON HIS/HER PARTICIPATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE $500 AND THE SUBJECT WILL RECEIVE $1500 UPON COMPLETION OF THE VIDEO AND THE SUBJECT’S COMPLETION OF THE WINNER’S AFFIDAVIT, IP ASSIGNMENT, AND IF THE SUBJECT IS APPEARING ON SCREEN, THE TALENT RELEASE.

• If you are submitting your own Story and are selected as a finalist, you will be required to provide this Story Cooperation Agreement (Story Owner’s Submission)  . THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INITIAL SUBMISSION.
  
  
• If you are submitting on behalf of someone else and are selected as a finalist, you will be required to provide this Story Cooperation Agreement (Submission On Another’s Behalf)  . THIS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INITIAL SUBMISSION.

FILMMAKERS WILL BE SELECTED FOR EACH STORY IN A SEPARATE PROJECT THAT WILL LAUNCH IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WINNING STORIES ARE SELECTED HERE.  THE FILMMAKER IS NOT REQUIRED TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION TO THE SUBJECT.

The winning Story submissions will receive $2,000 each.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. BY SUBMITTING AN 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  (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.

4. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

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

6. 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.

7. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

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

9. In the event that fewer than 100 Ideas are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

10. Winners must complete the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment.

11. 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.