Southeastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nurturing extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. The organization operates the most advanced training facilities of any service dog organization in the world. Their experts breed, raise, and train elite working dogs — including guide dogs, service dogs, and skilled companion dogs — and provide life-changing services for people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or the loss of a parent in the military. Pursuing this mission since 1982, Southeastern Guide Dogs now has over 1,200 dogs under their auspices. All of their services — which include selective breeding and expert dog training; comprehensive on-campus student instruction; and the most robust alumni support program in North America — are provided at no cost to recipients.

Canine University is a 2-year program through puppy raising and formal training that meshes with each dog's innate personality and skills to put them on the track to transform someone's life for the better as either a guide dog or a service dog (their "chosen major").

Each dog at Canine University is unique and has particular talents and skills to offer to someone who needs them. They are all learning and progressing towards the ultimate goal of becoming a guide dog for someone who is visually impaired or a service dog for a veteran with PTSD, vision loss, or another disability. 

Dog personas:

These personas are examples of the types of dogs at SEGD, and potential character types for your scripts:

• The Bookworm takes all the commands he learns to heart, enjoys mastering new things, and pays attention to detail. He will keep his handler safe and is open to new challenges and environments. 
• The Athlete is strong and determined and not afraid to face new obstacles, physical challenges, or roadblocks. She will have the stamina and good health to work alongside her handler for many years.

And don't forget Chip the Cat, a wise-guy who wants to be a part of the chat and can act as a comic foil. 

 

REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION OR TONE: 

Here is a recent video chat between Titus and three Canine University students to give you a sense of tone, although the dogs in this video do not "talk":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjIb1DL7F_0

At Southeastern Guide Dogs Canine University, young dogs are molded into elite guide dogs through rigorous study and training. Like any college student, they select a major (specializing as a guide dog for the visually impaired, a service dog for veterans, or a dog for children with visual impairment or dealing with the loss of a military family member). As they prepare to graduate, each dog gets a sit down (and stay!) chat with Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman to review their progress reports and remind them of their important destinies. 

This is where you come in. SEGD is looking for two writers to craft 3-3.5 minute scripts for upcoming chats between Titus and matriculating guide and service dogs. Your scripts should be charming and lighthearted, showing off each dog's personality and talents, while reminding the dogs – and therefore, the audience – that each of these dogs will go on to serve a crucial role in transforming someone's life down the road. Read more about SEGD and Canine University in the Background section.

There will be three dogs on each video conference with Titus, and your script should craft a dialogue between him and each dog. Titus will share their progress reports with them, and the dogs should react to what he says: ask questions, make jokes, cheer each other on. Also, Chip the Cat – who teaches SEGD dogs to acclimate to cats in their future homes – may "bomb" the video chats for comic relief... sometimes in a dog costume. 

 

DELIVERABLES: One 3-3.5 minute script

 

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

 

EXPOSURE: Southeastern Guide Dogs website, donor newsletters, Facebook, and YouTube

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Dog lovers everywhere
• Current and future donors

 

TONE: Comedic, charming, lighthearted, positive and upbeat, lightly educational

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your script must be a dialogue between Titus and each dog, individually and as a group
• Your script must speak to each dog's individual talents and progress  as well as SEGD's overall mission to transform lives one guide dog at a time
• The dogs must "converse" with Titus (and each other); in the final videos, their mouths may move or their dialogue may be VO, but they should have speaking roles. 

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.

 

• TITLE (REQUIRED): Your script title in 50 characters or less.
  
  
• SCRIPT OUTLINE (REQUIRED):  In 500 characters or less, describe your script, how you'll portray Titus and the dogs, and how your idea will be expanded into a complete script.
  
  
• SCRIPT (Optional): Your 3-3.5 minute script. This should include dialogue for both Titus and the dogs.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is .pdf. Acceptable file formats  also include , .docx, .doc, and .txt. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide an editable text file in addition to your final .pdf.
   
   
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 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  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. Scripts 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, Scripts will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final script based on their prior work and experience as a writer.
    
    
13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Scripts  without providing additional compensation.
    
    
14. 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.