• Anything Goes (Pop culture)
• The Conviction of Max B (True crime)
• Unlocking Us with Brene Brown (Wellness)
• We Said What We Said (Pop culture, comedy, relationships)
• The Journal (Society and culture)
• La Cabina Telefonica (Narrative fiction)
• Sibling Rivalry (Comedy)

Have you ever wished that podcasts had sound effects that could fully transport you to another world? You know, maybe your favorite wellness podcast could be even more of a meditation if it had the gentle sounds of light rain, bird calls, and tent flaps, gently fluttering in the breeze, so you could pretend you're in a Costa Rican rainforest... or maybe your true crime obsession of the month could benefit from the sound of plodding footsteps and creaking doors, as you follow a killer through the shadows....

Traditionally, ASMR content is designed to tickle your brain and bring you an odd sense of satisfaction, and Spotify is looking to take advantage of that to market some of their top podcasts. They want to marry ASMR videos - with all their satisfying visuals and sound effects we love them for - with short clips and excepts from their podcasts. Spotify imagines that the video you create is thematically connected to a particular type of podcast genre (e.g. comedy, wellness, true crime, entertainment, culture, gaming, etc.), but that it otherwise stands on its own as good ASMR content. Ultimately, Spotify is looking for up to three Tongal filmmakers, who will each create a single themed :30-:60 ASMR video that Spotify can later pair with relevant podcast clips to create cool social content.

To be clear, we're not asking you to create a video promoting any one specific podcast. We're not asking you to create specific marketing content at all, actually. No messaging, no logos, no branded color schemes. The video that you create should simply feel relevant to a particular genre of podcasts, as good ASMR, with compelling visuals and audio. Once you deliver your video, Spotify will do all the work of pairing it with podcast clips and excepts. 

So, imagine what being in your favorite type of podcast would look, feel, and sound like – and then make an ASMR video that brings that experience to life. When you're listening to your favorite cooking podcast, and you close your eyes, do you see your hands honing your chef's knife, chopping onions on a cutting board, and searing a sizzling steak in melted butter? An ASMR version of that could be paired with any number of cooking podcasts that Spotify has. Or maybe you're a big gamer whose brain relaxes to the click-clack of a mechanical keyboard, as you lean back into your ergonomic gaming chair, and crack open a fresh can of your favorite seltzer. Boom. Give us an ASMR version of that, and Spotify will pair it with something from the gaming genre.

There are as many ways to approach ASMR as there are podcast genres, and we're looking for wildly imaginative, unexpected takes on ASMR. Spotify is open to pretty much every style and format, so long as it doesn't use any existing IP or copyrighted content. And it should go without saying that your audio needs to be crisp, immersive, and attention-getting for your ASMR video to be effective.

Check out more information and references in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

 

DELIVERABLES: One :30-:60 ASMR video for TikTok (9x16)

 

TIMELINE: HERE.

 

EXPOSURE: Spotify's TikTok and other social platforms. Please review the platform best practices page.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: Older Gen Z (18–25) podcast fans on TikTok.

 

TONE: Mesmerizing, satisfying, brain-tickling, calming, or exciting (depending on approach).

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your ASMR video can be designed for a specific podcast genre (i.e. true crime, gaming podcasts) or it can be designed for open-ended use as a companion to multiple genres (i.e. a slime or cleaning ASMR video). 
• Do not bake podcast excerpts into your ASMR content; Spotify wants to be flexible in how they use your ASMR videos.
• Avoid using any existing IP, including identifiable products. 
• While you may use talent in your videos, we recommend a general approach: hands, filming from behind, silhouettes, etc. will make your ASMR content more available to a variety of podcasts vs creating specific on-screen characters. 
• We recommend avoiding using music in your ASMR videos, but you can use Tongal's three partner libraries for any sound effects, tones, etc. you can't record yourself. You can find links to Tongal's partner libraries in the Requirements tab.

 

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, 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.

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.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 9x16. 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.