Get ready to channel your inner explorer and your inner kid…

 

The vision of NAT GEO KIDS is to excite and inspire a new generation of young explorers.  Their promise to kids is to make it fun to explore the world through amazing stories and hands-on adventure.  And their promise to parents is to immerse children in trusted experiences and content that engages them in the world around them. 

NAT GEO KIDS reaches 285 million/month across all entertainment platforms, and has the #1 Kids consumer magazine in the world!  They also publish 100 books per year, which translates into 85 million readers per year!

In 2018, Nat Geo Kids is releasing a brand-new book called Explorer Academy, which can best be described as Harry Potter for Explorers.  I KNOW.  IT’S INCREDIBLE.  The book revolves around key themes of adventure, danger, and code-breaking, all set in a fast-paced near-future world that hooks kids using real science, technology and of course, exploration.  Here’s a brief synopsis of the book:

Cruz, a bright, fun-loving 12-year-old, leaves Hawaii and his dad behind to attend the prestigious Explorer Academy—a branch of the Society, a global organization dedicated to the power of science, exploration, and storytelling. Cruz discovers that his mother, a former neuroscientist and cryptographer at the Society, left behind clues to a secret formula she was working on at the time of her death. The serum is a mixture of animal venoms that allows the body to regenerate by healing disease and injury—a coveted path to immortality. [Based on real National Geographic research!] In each book, Cruz will find clues that lock into place on a lanyard he wears around his neck. His journey will take him to incredible places around the world, from Honduras to the Himalaya, Australia to the Arctic. He will struggle to crack codes, make friends, keep his grades up, and stay one step ahead of mysterious villains, who are after not only the formula, but him, too!

Now here’s where you come in!

 

In conjunction with the book release, Nat Geo Kids is looking to bring the story to life in a 2D animated series to be distributed on the Nat Geo Kids YouTube channel, website, and other digital platforms.  This is a really special opportunity for someone like you to display your passion for exploration and develop a show with a likeminded, incredibly successful brand with the goal of inspiring kids everywhere to be explorers in their own lives.

 

The goal is to write the Pilot episode for a National Geographic Explorer Academy animated series, and then to hopefully get the greenlight to go on and showrun the series.

During this project, you’ll be working very closely with an Animation team, which we’ll be identifying through a separate contest.

It’s important to know that we’re breaking the Pitch Phase into two parts – Pre-Pitch and Pitch.  Pre-Pitch is a helpful first step that essentially allows writers to raise their hands and let us know if they’re available and have the desire and ability to take on this project.  The Sponsor will be selecting a number of writers to move forward then into the Pitch Phase, and will give them access to the manuscript and additional materials to help them flesh out their pitches further!

Directly below is a summary of requirements to submit a Pre-Pitch and Pitch (and there’s a more comprehensive explanation in the Details section).

What is Required to Submit your Writers PRE-PITCH:

• 1,000-character or less synopsis telling us why YOU should be given the opportunity to serve as Showrunner on a National Geographic animated kid’s series
• Previous Work: With a strong emphasis on kid’s content.  You may submit either writing samples or produced videos based on your writing.
• Confirm Availability to produce a Pilot Script between February to April 2018, if chosen as the Pitch Winner.
• Writer's fee: Please note the budget range needs to stay between $2,000-$5,000.

What is Required to Submit your Pitch:

• Text: 500 characters or less synopsis of your approach to this animated series.
• Treatment: This PDF should contain a rough Pilot outline and 3-4 episode springboards.
• Pitch Video: 1-3 minute pitch video introducing yourself, telling us why you’re right for this project, and summarizing your qualifications.

Estimated Timeline:

Pre-Pitch Phase: 1/11-1/22

Tongal Selects Pre-Pitch winners: 1/26

Pitch Phase: 1/26-2/5

Nat Geo Selects Pitch Winner / Showrunner: 2/12

Pilot Script Development: 2/12-2/20

First Draft of Pilot Script Due to Tongal: 2/20

First Draft of Pilot Script Due to Nat Geo: 2/26

Nat Geo Consolidated Feedback on Pilot First Draft Due: 3/1

Pilot Script Revisions Phase (4 rounds): 3/1-3/27

Nat Geo Approval: 3/30

--Target Audience: Kids 8-12

--Tone: Adventurous, exciting, kid-friendly, cool, daring, fun, global, imaginative, empowering, inclusive

 

--Exposure: Nat Geo Kids YouTube channel, website, and other digital platforms

PRODUCT: The book is not currently released, but we will provide the Winner with the manuscript for the first book and all other necessary development materials.

DELIVERABLES:

-One 5.5-minute Pilot script

The writer's fee for this Pilot script has a budget range from $2,000-$5,000.

This Project consists of 4 Phases: A Pre-Pitch Phase, a Pitch Phase, a Pilot Script Phase, a Revisions Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

PHASE 1: PRE-PITCH

Attention Writers: This project will include a Pre-Pitch Phase which gives writers the opportunity to submit a 1000-word synopsis of their creative and narrative concepts for the final Video(s), confirm their availability for production, and provide samples of previous work. Writers Pre-Pitch winners will move forward into the Pitch Phase and will be awarded $500 to further develop their pitch by completing a Treatment consisting of a Pilot outline and 2-3 episode springboards.  

At the end of the Pitch Phase, Sponsors may select final Pitch winner(s) from the group of Pre-Pitch winners. Please note that Writers Pre-Pitch winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production. If you have any questions about Pre-Pitch, please post to our Forum or reach out to us at info@tongal.com.

Required for Writers Pre-Pitch submission:

• Pitch Synopsis (REQUIRED): In 1,000 characters or less telling us why YOU should be given the opportunity to serve as Showrunner on a National Geographic animated kid’s series.
• Previous Work (REQUIRED): With a strong emphasis on kid’s content.  You may submit either writing samples or links to produced videos based on your writing.
• Confirm availability (REQUIRED): Please make sure to confirm your availability to produce a Pilot Script between February to April 2018, if chosen as the Pitch Winner.
• Writer's Fee (REQUIRED): Please tell us your writer's fee for the Pilot Script. Keep in mind, it needs to stay within the range of $2,000-$5,000.

 

PHASE 2: PITCH

Submit your Pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?)  convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected.

Required for Pitch submission:

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsis of your approach to this animated series
• Treatment (REQUIRED): This PDF should contain a rough Pilot outline and 3-4 episode springboards.
• Pitch Video (REQUIRED): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you’re capable of. 
• 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.

 

The most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive their agreed upon fee. Please note the payment of the Pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Additionally, upon submitting a Script that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor the Pitch winner will receive a final payment of their agreed upon fee.

PHASE 3: PILOT SCRIPT – The 1 (one) winner from the Pitch Phase will create a 5.5-minute Pilot Script based upon their winning Pitch.

PHASE 4: REVISIONS – Once the Pilot Script Phase has closed, the writer will enter the Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?).  During this phase, the writer will perform up to four rounds of reasonable edits on their script according to the Sponsor’s feedback. 

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

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

5. 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.

6. Limit 5 submissions per member.

7. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or old.

8. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest at their discretion.

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

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.