REFERENCES FOR INSPIRATION OR TONE: 

• Be sure to check out the Best Fiends game to better understand the world and personalities in this universe.
• And for a closer look at the Slugs and their contentious relationship with the Fiends, be sure to check out this short. 

The goal of this project is to find writers for a new Best Fiends YouTube series. In this series the slugs have come across a forgotten smartphone and peruse the internet to do research on their arch nemeses - the Best Fiends - through real-life nature footage.

 

Imagine blending Sir David Attenborough’s legendary narrations & amazing National Geographic stories with the hilarious Honey Badger video and you’re starting to get the jist!

Your outline needs to be based on this nature footage of a real orchid mantis--the same species as the character Rose from the Best Fiends universe. More information on Rose below! 

 

DELIVERABLES: 

• (1) 1-page outline for a 3-minute YouTube episode
• If selected to move forward, you will have the opportunity to write a 3-5 page script based on the outline, and go through two rounds of revisions.

 

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets tab.

 

EXPOSURE: 

• YouTube
• Best Fiends Mobile Game

Please click here for more information on YouTube best practices.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:  

• Current Best Fiends players, women and men, who are 18-50

 

TONE: 

• Think “Minions” or “The Simpsons” – funny yet subversive and playful.
• Tone is very important here! We want to see your comedic sensibility shine through in your outline.

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your outline must be based on this actual nature footage of an orchid mantis. Other imagery (such as animation) may eventually be interspersed with the nature footage.
• Think of this as a pilot for a potential ongoing series. Your outline should set up a format/structure that can be repeatable across future episodes. 
• Please follow this basic premise for your outline: The Slugs of Minutia have come across a lost smartphone, which to them looks like a giant screen. They use this screen - and the Internet it's connected to - to do reconnaissance on their arch nemeses, the Best Fiends. Where the story goes from there, and how you tell it, is entirely up to you!
• In your outline, please include at least 1-3 lines of sample dialogue. 
• Dialogue should only be spoken by the slugs—not the Fiend characters. The slugs should be reacting to nature footage of the fiends that they have found on the lost smartphone.
• Your outline should be humorous in tone (think Mystery Science Theater 3000). Feel free to include sample jokes and allow your comedic style to shine through!
• In addition to being funny, your outline also include factual nature information. We want viewers to also learn new and interesting facts! Be sure to do some research. Your descriptions of the creature should be factually accurate (we will be fact checking!), but also relate to the personality & traits of the Best Fiend character Rose--who is an orchid mantis. 
• Your outline should set up a story & format that is achievable in a 3-minute video.

About Rose:

• Gender: Female
• Species: Orchid Mantis
• Personality: Rose may look pretty in pink but she also packs a punch! Hiding in the flowers to attract her prey, the Slugs better not try to smell the roses!

In order to be considered for this project you must include the below materials in your submission. 

 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing your approach to the potential series and adding any additional context you'd like us to know when reading your outline.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous written work. These can include videos or scripts. If relevant, please be sure to note any additional roles you played beyond writer (producer, director, cinematography, etc.). DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos where applicable.
  
  
• OUTLINE (REQUIRED): A 1-page document outlining the structure and narrative of the episode. Please be sure to include at least 1-3 lines of sample dialogue.

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. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
7. 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.
    
8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.