When you’re standing in line behind someone who is paying for their purchases in pennies, a lot of things might go through your head – Can I just kick them out of the way is probably one of those thoughts – but what you’re really thinking is: Really? Really?
Just like the feeling you get when someone asks if red licorice is better than black licorice – uh, clearly. Or if pacifiers with mustaches are clearly better than regular pacifiers – that one’s a no brainer. And how about if N’SYNC was better than the Backstreet Boys (ok, ok – that one’s a tie).
Well, denizens of Tongal – you know when something is clearly better, and now’s your chance to show it! This MYSTERY SPONSOR needs YOU make a PILOT that can be developed into a web series around the concept that a Mystery Product (to be revealed once you win the Pitch Phase) is clearly better than it's competitors.
They're looking for you to bring the REAL TALK with a clever sassy duo (female + male), that will engage in some witty on-camera banter, address live tweets about the Mystery Product in real time, and tie it all back to their bigger campaign message. So be inspired by the chemistry of great SNL duos like Amy & Seth on "Weekend Update" or the entertaining dynamic of your favorite cable celebs - like the charming team of experts on "Love It or List It" or "What Not to Wear." Ping your favorite UCB/Groundlings/Second City/iO comedian friends and head to the Objectives to see how this project will unfold.
The goal of this project is to create a charming, enthusiastic, fun and entertaining Pilot up to 2 minutes in length and one meme/promo still (the winner of the Pilot Phase will create an additional 30 second cut-down, plus a 15 second Instagram teaser) with highly entertaining main characters - ideally one female and one male - that can be developed into a web series for this Mystery Sponsor. That means that if you hit it out of the park, they'll come back to you to produce more episodes in your series!
If you can convince the Mystery Sponsor why you have the right duo, tone and conept for your Pilot, then we'll give you more confidential details once you win the Pitch Phase. For example:
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Headshots/Casting is REQUIRED as a part of your Pitch submission. You can even upload a Screen Test of your Actors / Characters improvising their material and playing off of each other, so we can get a sense of the dynamic & tone of your show.
CUTDOWN NOTE: The up to 2 minute Pilot AND the Meme/Promo Still are both due at the close of the Video Phase. The winner of the Pilot Phase will create an additional 30 second cut-down, plus a 15 second Instagram teaser. Please upload them as separate videos when submitting your Videos.
--Key Marketing Messages:
--Target Audience: Women and Men 25 to 40-somethings who are juggling a lot between work, family lives and personal time. But they will stop to pay attention to what your Pilot has to say -- they want to be entertained.
--Executional Mandatories:
--Tone: Witty, charming, enthusiastic, fun and entertaining - but also informational. Think SNL, Love it or List it, What Not To Wear, Alton Brown and Jimmy Fallon.
--Exposure: Intended for YouTube, social, and the Mystery Sponsor’s website. If you hit it out of the park, your video could be promoted with paid media.
--Product: Samples will be made available to the Pitch winners.
This Project will be worth a total of $50,000 and consists of 2 Phases: a Pitch Phase and a Pilot Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.
PHASE 1: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What Is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Mystery Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a web series Pilot including the following:
NOTE: HEADSHOTS/CASTING is REQUIRED in your Pitch.
The 3 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $5,000 to help create the Videos. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $9,000, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $17,000 First Place video prize. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out Erik Beck’s winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.
PHASE 2: PILOT – The 3 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a ONE Pilot (up to two minutes in length) and ONE meme/still promo based upon their winning Pitch and the first place Pilot winner will create an additional 15 second Instagram teaser and a 30 second cut-down.
The Judges will score the 3 winning Videos submitted by Pitch winners to determine the standings for the Video Phase. Remember, the 3 Pitch winners will receive prizes.
--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $17,000 and 2nd place $9,000 and 3rd place $9,000.
--Music: Tongal has partnered with two premiere music providers: Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. You may use up to THREE total tracks per Video submission, and they can come from any of the two providers listed above. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.
If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.
--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won. That’s a potential $1,400 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.
1. The Video MUST not exceed 120-seconds in length. 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 you win, 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. In the event that fewer than 50 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.
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, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning 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 prize.
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.