If you've seen any of the five stellar Final Destination movies, then you know the drill: never drive behind a logging truck. Always have a buddy spot you on your weights circuit. And never, ever use a tanning bed. But it doesn't matter how careful you are – once you have a premonition of what's to come, there's no escaping death.

To celebrate the upcoming release of Final Destination Bloodlines, only in theaters on May 16, Warner Bros. is looking for one inventive (and a bit twisted) Tongal filmmaker to create a roughly :30 video, designed for social media, where we see the world's deadliest Rube Goldberg machine start a chain reaction of increasingly vicious stunts through a system of pulleys, levels, and cogs (and probably weapons, while we're at it). The video could end with the machine "revealing" the Final Destination Bloodlines skull and release date – or it could have some other sinister and entertaining shock in store for us. Beyond the intricacies of the Rube Goldberg machine itself, consider how you can use visual effects to make certain elements of the machine "pop out" at the viewer.

In terms of execution, both live-action and realistic 3D animation are on the table, although 3D animation is probably more feasible when it comes to constructing and executing (literally) your most disturbing ideas. The Warner Bros. team really loves this chocolate Rube Goldberg machine that was created to promote the movie Wonka in 2023, and they'd love to see how you can take that basic idea and put your sadistic Final Destination spin on it.

To be effective, your video must be clever and thrilling; each step of your Rube Goldberg machine should feel inevitable, as if guided by fate’s malevolent hand, while also being unexpected or surprising. Easter eggs to elements in the Final Destination Bloodlines trailer or other entries in the franchise are welcome, but your video must NOT be overly gory, violent, or crude.

No matter what medium you choose to work in, your video must be thumb-stoppingly thrilling and slightly terrifying – we want audiences to feel the building tension but be unable to look away – while culminating in an epic, shriek-worthy, and exceedingly clever yet deadly payoff! 

Since these videos are for social media, you'll need to avoid anything overly violent, gory, or showing a person or character's 'death;' you can certainly imply these things, either off-camera or after the video has ended, but your video should still be appropriate for any younger audiences that come across it. And just like in any Final Destination movie, the suspense and sinister vibe you build should come through in your sound design as much as in your visuals, and we'd love to hear how you plan to achieve that in your Pitch.

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

DELIVERABLES: There are four total video assets:

• One roughly :30 social video (9x16, 4x5) with Warner Bros.-provided endcard
• One roughly :30 social video (9x16, 4x5) without endcard

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE

EXPOSURE: We expect content will be used on the platforms below, but if casting talent, be sure they review our required  Talent Release before they're cast, as it is NOT limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the  platform best practices.

• Instagram (In-Feed and Reels)
• TikTok
• YouTube Shorts
• X/Twitter
• Facebook

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Gen Z – welcome a new generation of audiences to Final Destination
• Millennials - especially those familiar with the Final Destination franchise
• Horror/Thriller fans of all ages

  
  

TONE/FEEL: Suspenseful, playful, imaginative, shocking, thrilling, and just a tiny bit scary – we want audiences to have an authentically shocked reaction! 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Please make sure to check out the OFFICIAL RULES of the project.
• You may NOT depict the likeness of any actors from Final Destination Bloodlines or any other Final Destination movies.
• No actual violence may be shown; avoid being overly gory.
• Your video should ALWAYS have sound – TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts are sound-on platforms – and Warner Bros. will provide trailer and soundtrack audio to the greenlit filmmakers to use in their content; beyond this, you can ONLY use audio you record directly for this project (e.g. natural sound, dialogue, sound effects, etc), and you may NOT use trending audio from TikTok or Instagram, any library music or sound effects (including from Tongal's partner libraries).
• You may NOT use any stock footage and/or imagery in your video. 
• If greenlit, you *might* be asked by Warner Bros. to post your video to your own social channels, so we're asking for your current social media handles in your submission. However, without explicit permission, you may NOT post the video yourself.
• All graphics and the most important visual content should stay within IG Reels/TikTok/YouTube Shorts safe zones.
• You MAY NOT include any logos or other branding within your video. 
• Text can be incorporated but is not required.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period,but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed 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. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES (REQUIRED): Please provide your social media handles (i.e. TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, etc.).

• STORYBOARDS (Optional): To better illustrate your vision, include actual storyboards, additional concept art, shot lists, or anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template HERE.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

1. 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. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. 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 creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.