To help prepare first-time PAs in our On-Set Apprenticeship Program (and for other first-time PAs too!), we're commissioning a script for a comedic instructional video that covers all the essential topics that you'd need to understand to ensure a successful and safe on-set experience. Here are a few resources to help you decide which topics to include in your outline and final script: 

• The PA's (Sort Of) Ultimate Survival Guide
• Production Speak: Words and Phrases You Need to Know for Film Production
• "Setiquette" Primer

 

REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION OR TONE: 

• British Airways Safety Video 
• Omega Mart Employee Training Video 
• Aimee's Film Crew Parody #1
• Aimee's Film Crew Parody #2

Quiet on set! Tongal's calling all comedic writers to pitch us their outlines for a funny instructional video that covers on-set etiquette for first-time Production Assistants (PAs). The final video that you're writing for will be 5 to 7 minutes in length, and will cover topics such as walkie-talkie protocol, punctuality, dress code, set lingo, understanding a call sheet, fighting the urge to casually drop your latest film script on the Director's chair, and more!  

We're interested in seeing how you'd make PA training fun and accessible, so you should submit an outline that demonstrates how you'd approach some of these essential topics in a comedic style. Feel free to pull from your own PA or on-set experience, and be sure to showcase your sensibilities by including samples of dialogue and/or voice-over. We're anticipating this will be a live-action video - not an animated video - and when developing your outlines, we'd encourage you to write with a single location in mind and no more than 2 actors per scene. Also, make sure the humor doesn't counteract the important lesson at hand. 

Check out more information in the Background, and get familiar with our reference materials. For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum. 

 

DELIVERABLES:  One 5-7 minute video script (.pdf or .doc format preferred)

 

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

 

EXPOSURE:

• Tongal's YouTube Channel 
• Tonga's Creator Tutorials Hub 
• Please review the platform best practices page.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE: First-time production assistants and other aspiring filmmakers and crew members.

 

TONE: Comedic, Informative, Relatable 

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Write your script so that this can be shot using a single location.
• Include no more than 2 actors or characters per scene.

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 about your writing background and your general approach for this script.
  
  
• SCRIPT OUTLINE (REQUIRED): Include sample snippets of dialogue and VO in a PDF and pick 2-3 topics to flesh out in your comedic writing style so we can get a clear idea of how you'd approach the entire script.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. You may link to videos based on scripts you've written (just specify that you were the writer on the project). 

• 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. 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. 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 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
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. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
   
   
10. 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.