Tongal is invited to an event where we may pitch your big original content ideas to a room full of global Brand Marketers. Like an auction, they’ll have the chance to bid on the ideas they want to develop together.

We’re talking big, like HUGE. With budgets from $100k - $1MM. Your Pitch can include name talent if you have them attached (i.e. Don’t pitch Beyonce, unless you can really cast her!). It must be an original idea that you haven’t pitched to any other contests, Brands or buyers. And no, we don’t know which Brands will be in the room, but here are a few possibilities: Pepsi, GE, Gatorade, Activision, Naked Juice, Lay’s, P&G, and GSK. So make sure your Pitch is Brand agnostic – not tailored to any specific Brand, but could appeal to many - so multiple Brands can get excited to bid on it!

Below are examples of content ideas that have won at events like this, so get your GINORMOUS thinking caps on…

Variety: Omnicom Agencies Bring Mark Burnett, Vice In New Ad Pitch (2015)

• Mark Burnett pitched “Finders Keepers” as a sort of treasure hunt taking place across all kinds of digital media. Over the course of 49 days, he proposes to work with advertisers to release a wide assortment of clues in the form of pop-culture trivia in mobile and digital venues. Followers who find and solve the clues will be able to find a reward.

 

AdWeek: Final Front Brings Together Brands and New Original Content (2013)

• Funny or Die’s 50 States of Funny would troll the country for the best sketch comedy, with winners heading to Hollywood to try for “U.S. Champion” bragging rights. (Pepsi, Levi’s, Intel, Time-Warner Cable, Warner Bros. and State Farm all wanted a piece of that nationwide project.)
• Your Life Animated would tell in cartoon form the real-life stories of entertainment-loving millennials (Clorox and FedEx were among the brands bidding on that and other Viacom ideas). 
• Marketers like Wells Fargo, GE and Experian may sponsor an AOL documentary-style series called Made in America that would travel the country telling the personal stories of homegrown craftsmen, workers and entrepreneurs.
• Producers rolled out a number of feel-good ideas like Awesomeness TV’s Bringing the Awesomeness, where 12 kids will see their school gym, prom, football field or marching band transformed from drab to, well, awesome. 

So, what have you always wanted to make? What would your friends want to see? If you were a Brand, what type of groundbreaking content would you want to sponsor?

Your big original content ideas should be innovative and insight-driven! But before you get started, read the Executional Mandatories… then submit your Pitch by July 18th!

The goal of this project is to discover big original content ideas that Tongal can present to Brands.

Your big original content idea should transcend any Brand affiliation and appeal to a variety of Brands.

We’ll award TWO Pitch winners who will work with Tongal to each develop a presentation including a Video asset (i.e., Sizzle Reel, Mini-Pilot, Proof of Concept) up to 3 minutes in length.

If one of the Brands chooses your Pitch and Video Asset for further development, you may be asked to work with the Brand and Tongal to execute it.

FAQ’s

1. What is the scope of this project? Ultimately, if your big original content idea is selected by a Brand, execution budgets may range from $100k - $1MM, so don’t limit yourself. Brands are open to seeing short form, long form, scripted, unscripted, webseries, short films, feature films, cross-platform, live event tie-in’s and multi-media big original content ideas.   

2. Can you submit something you’ve already produced?  Sure! But remember it has to be exclusive to this project, so if you’re selected as a Pitch winner you’ll be asked to confirm in writing that you haven’t pitched it to any other contests, Brands or buyers.

Remember, these Brands are looking for… STORYTELLING:

• Creative ideas born from powerful insights

• A clear and compelling role for Brands

• A vision for how your big original content idea would be executed

• Potentially Talent to enhance the big original content idea or the presentation

--Executional Mandatories:

• Your idea needs to be exclusive to this project, meaning you can not have submitted it to other contests, Brands and Buyers.

• Your idea needs to clearly articulate the consumer hook, why audiences will want to engage with it. (Please fill out the "Why this? Why now?" field in the Pitch Submission Form.)

• Your idea should be insight-driven – Who wants to see this? And why? So what’s your reason for passionately creating it? (Please fill out the "Core Consumer Insight" field in the Pitch Submission Form.)

• Your idea should be broad enough for a multi-platform execution – if it makes sense, it should be able to play across YT, FB, IG and Snapchat in a clever and creative way.

• Your idea could use known talent and high-quality presentation tactics – Do you have a star-studded cast? An influencer host? You can upload them under "Casting/Headshots". A well-produced sizzle reel? A proof of concept? You can upload it under "Pitch Video".

• The format is flexible; creativity is encouraged. Maybe you have something in mind that’s as big as the Super Bowl, as elevated as a Sundance Short, and as addictive as the next Game of Thrones.

--Target Audience:  YOU.  

--Tone:  We’re open to anything that would be a hit. Consider a wide-variety of content you like to watch or content that Brands tend to sponsor, for example: sports shows, female-driven shows, tech shows, music shows, reality competitions, food-related content, character-driven pieces, event-driven content, holiday content, etc… 

--Additional Reference Links: 

VideoInk: 2014 Final Front Coverage  (Video Interviews - 2014)

NY Times: Media Agency to Host Event for Branded Content  (2013)

This Project will be worth a total of $8,000 and consists of TWO Phases: a Pitch Phase and a Video 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 Sponsor why your big original content idea should be selected. Here’s your opportunity to prove that your big original content idea is unique, insight and/or data-driven, and appeals to a variety of Brand sponsors. Present why you’re the perfect creator to execute it and outline your vision for how you plan to bring it to life.   

• Big Original Content Idea: PROVIDE THE ONE-SENTENCE ELEVATOR PITCH FOR YOUR IDEA
• Brief Overview: PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF YOUR CONCEPT
• Core Consumer Insight: IDENTIFY THE CORE CONSUMER INSIGHT THAT LED TO YOUR IDEA 
• Why this? Why Now?: COMMUNICATE WHAT EXACTLY MAKES YOUR CONCEPT NEW AND/OR UNIQUE
• Budget Proposal: PROVIDE BROAD-STROKES FOR THE BUDGET OF YOUR IDEA.

• 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.
• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us 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.
• Script/Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of script outlining what’s going to happen in your big original content idea and/or Video asset.
• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
• Storyboards (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across.

The TWO most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $1,000 and each will move on to develop a presentation with Tongal and create a Video asset. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, TWO of the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase.  So, if your Pitch is selected to move onto the Video Phase you will win an additional $3,000. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private.

No filmmakers may begin shooting their Video until all Approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your Video before approvals, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense) so please don’t jump the gun.

 

PHASE 2: VIDEO – Once you’ve received feedback from Tongal and are greenlit into Production, the TWO Pitch Winners will each create a Video Asset. Most likely, this will be a Sizzle Reel, a Mini-Pilot, or Proof of Concept in Video form, up to 3 minutes in length to complement the presentation.  

 

--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $3,000 and 2nd place $3,000.

 

--Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audioblocks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. 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.

Tongal members interested in a custom music solution for your project are invited to connect with SCORE A SCORE. They specialize in the creation of custom music, on-demand.

Their business model is based on a "name your price" system, so you can tell them what your budget is, and they will work with you to create a deal configuration that will work within the discussed parameters. Check out the FAQ for more information and how to contact SCORE A SCORE.

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.

1. The Video MUST not exceed 3 minutes 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. Tongal members who submit Pitches and are not selected as winners will retain all rights to their entries.

6. If a Brand or buyer does not place a bid on the two winning big original content ideas, Tongal reserves the right to pitch the ideas to alternative Brands or buyers for a period of 12 months, starting on September 23, 2016. Thereafter, all rights in and to the two winning entries shall automatically reconvey to you.

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

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

9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The Sponsor will be entitled two 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.