This is a wide-open call for documentaries, although the primary focus should be on interesting individuals or groups of individuals. It'd be great to see subjects and characters who represent a particularly unique sub-culture, lifestyle, movement, identity, or passion, but the studio is open to all manner of undiscovered histories, biographies, local heroes, underdog stories, etc. 

Given that documentary filmmaking can be a lengthy labor of love, the studio is open to projects at almost any stage of development or production. They just ask that you be as detailed as possible when you present your documentary pitch, so that it's clear how much you already know about your subject, what access you have, what you may have already filmed or recorded, and how far along you may be in producing your project. If you have a teaser or sizzle already, or if completed portions have been screened, you should share that as well. 

RELEVANT DOCUMENTARY TRAILERS FOR REFERENCE: 

• Free Solo
• The Wolfpack
• 20 Feet from Stardom
• Searching for Sugar Man
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi
• Marwencol
• King of Kong
• RBG

TONGAL ORIGINALS INCUBATOR & THE SPONSOR:

• This project is part of the Tongal Originals Incubator program, and we're partnering with a premium content studio to make it happen. You can learn more about the program itself HERE, but the Sponsor has elected to remain hidden for the initial phase of this project. We can tell you that they're able to develop, produce, or finance any documentary, but beyond that, you'll be able to learn more if you're selected for the Video Phase. 

OWNERSHIP/PARTICIPATION: 

• The rights to the pitch and sizzle video submissions that are selected by the Sponsor will be negotiated in good faith with the submitter and the Sponsor, and covered by a separate production agreement.

Give us your Free Solo, your Jiro Dreams of Sushi and your Marwencol. Give us those fresh, untold, and original stories about the kinds of unique real-life characters that we never knew could be so fascinating. Tongal has teamed up with one of Hollywood’s premium content studios - we’re talking A-list here - and they’re looking for passionate, bold, extraordinary, weird, wild, quirky, or brave: never-before-filmed subjects that can surprise and delight us, and maybe help us understand a little more just how fascinating humanity can be.

This is a massive opportunity, and whether you've already started filming and you're looking for finishing funds, or you've been carefully conceptualizing your project for years, it doesn't matter. The studio wants to help bring the best stories to life from whatever stage they're at - as feature-length films, or as multi-part series for the top TV and streaming platforms - so this is your chance to be 20 Feet From Stardom.

 

DELIVERABLES:

• One 2 to 4 minute sizzle video
• One page synopsis
• One 6 to 20 page documentary treatment

 

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets section. Note that this timeline DOES NOT include a timeline for production, as that is dependent on many factors and will be determined if/when your documentary is closer to production.

 

EXPOSURE & FORMAT: The studio is looking at feature length documentaries. If there is a compelling narrative that needs more than 90 minutes to be told then we can expand into a limited docu-series.

 

TONE: The studio is open to a wide range of tonal executions, so this can be dramatic, emotional, comedic, irreverent, quirky, exciting, romantic, or really anything that represents a compelling and unique human story.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• You must already have access to an individual or group of individuals if they are the subject of your documentary, and you will need to provide a talent appearance release for them if you are selected in the Pitch Phase. 
• For the purposes of your budget proposal, you should account for the cost of any archival material, video clips, photography, music, or other relevant content that may be relevant to the story and require licensing.

 

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal for BOTH the Sizzle Video, and the documentary itself. All budgets are subject to negotiation based on how the studio may decide to move forward with your submission if selected.
  • For the Sizzle Video, because not all filmmakers have existing materials or video assets that they can present for their documentary, you may request a budget to complete the sizzle video & treatment, depending on your needs. This budget should be within the range of $1,000-$4,000.
  • For the full documentary, given that budgets will vary based on their format and intended distribution, your budget proposal must indicate your intended format to provide context for review. 
• The studio is interested in seeing tiered pricing options, so please feel free to submit various versions of your full documentary pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the studio is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit bid, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the studio and the project team.

THE PITCH PHASE:

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): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute your documentary.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): This must included a detailed narrative description of your documentary's subject, as well as your approach to filming that subject. We've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, and because not all filmmakers have existing materials or video assets that they can present for their documentary, you may request a budget to complete the sizzle video & treatment, depending on your needs. This budget should be within the range of $1,000-$4,000. No full budget is required; just your bid.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): If you have an existing trailer or sizzle, this is the place to show it off. Otherwise, or in addition to that, this is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the studio and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell them what they can expect should they choose your pitch. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the studio gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

THE SIZZLE VIDEO PHASE:

If your Pitch is selected by the studio, you will create a sizzle video, a one-page synopsis, and a full treatment for your documentaries. 

• SIZZLE VIDEO (REQUIRED): Sizzle videos must be between 2 to 4 minutes and considered a “proof of concept” for the larger documentary. Your sizzle video should establish the tone, characters, style, and narrative you pitched.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): Full documentary treatments should be 6 to 20 pages and must included a detailed narrative description of your documentary's subject, as well as your approach to filming that subject. We've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• BUDGET & FORMAT (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. Your budget proposal must indicate your intended format to provide context for review. You can download the budget template here.
  
  
• EXISTING MATERIALS LIST (Optional): If you have already shot any footage for your documentary, produced any segments, or conducted any interviews, it would be helpful to know how much you have, and in what format it exists, so please include some information on that. 
  • For existing footage, please include an estimate for how many hours of footage you have, along with information about your camera and/or the video specs of those existing assets.
  • For produced segments, please include information about what's been produced, what it's runtime is, whether it has been screened or distributed publicly, whether it's been accepted to any film festivals, and/or if it's received any accolades or recognition.
  • For interviews, please include who you've interviewed, how many hours of interview audio you may have, along with information about the audio specs of those existing assets.

1. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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. 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. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
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, 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.
    
    
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.