Bust out that creepy porcelain doll you’ve been hiding in your closet all year, because the high holidays of horror are almost here, and SYFY wants to get you in on the action. This October 1st kicks off the 10^th annual 31 Days of Halloween event, and alongside a freaky marathon of fan-favorite horror content, SYFY’s looking to distill the essence of terror down to its purest form, so they’re challenging you to help them create a series of short form scares.

How short? 6 words, short. 15 seconds, short. There’s no time to look away, short.

We’re calling these Six Word Scares, and they’re gonna take some creativity, and a real love of horror. Need inspiration? Try out this classic: The alien egg suddenly bursts open. It’s simple, it’s pure, it’s scary as hell.

SYFY is looking for videos that are smart and original. They’ve offered up some Six Word Scares of their own, but they know you’re the real fans, and since real fans know their shit, they’re happy to have you Pitch with a Six Word Scare of your own wholly original creation.

So, channel your inner demons, turn off the lights, and check out some of the details below. 

Here is a rundown of the project: 

• This project will consistent of two main Phases: the Pitch Phase, and the Video Phase.
• For the Pitch Phase, you should either enter one of the Six Word Scares that are provided, or create one of your own. After you tell us what your Six Word Scare is, give us a short synopsis about how you’re going to transform it into a video, and then use your treatment to really flesh out us how it’s going to give us nightmares.
• The actual “Six Word Scare” that you use should be made clear to viewers in the video with on-screen text, but how and when you reveal it is up to you. It can also be actual dialogue.
• SYFY is looking for creative that has some sort of narrative turn or surprise.
• You’re not limited to six words of dialogue. The “Six Words” are a description of the scary moment itself, so the dialogue doesn’t have to stop after, “Hey, did you hear that noise?”  
• Your Six Word Scare & Video can certainly pay homage to fan-favorite horror fare, but it should really be an original execution.
• Your Video can be any genre or style of scare that you think works best, but it should not contain graphic violence, nudity, or explicit language. 
• Five Pitches will be selected, and if your Pitch is selected, you will move into pre-production, where you’ll need approval on your Treatment before getting the greenlight to production.
• The timeline is QUICK and the deadlines are TIGHT, so be ready to move. The full timeline is provided in the Objectives section.

What is Required to Submit your initial Pitch:

• Six Word Scare: In 60 characters or less, give us the Six Word Scare that’s going to drive your short video. It can be one of the Six Word Scares that SYFY has provided, or it can be an original Six Word Scare of your own.
• Text: 500 characters or less with a short synopsis explaining to SYFY how those Six Words will become a scary video.
• Links to Previous Work: Please specify your role.
• Treatment: Please provide a document with a detailed narrative description of what’s going to happen in the video, along with any visual and tonal references, and mood boards.

The goal is to produce a 15-second horror Video for SYFY, based on a single Six Word Scare. Your video should be accompanied by a social-optimized GIF in 1:1 aspect ratio. Did we mention it should be scary? It should be. 

The “Six Words” part of the Six Word Scare can be interpreted creatively in many ways. It can be a synopsis, a line of dialogue, a description of a moment, an observation, or even a total misdirect – but it should be obvious to the viewer that your Six Word Scare connects to your Video. The scare itself can be any genre or style of scare, and that means it doesn’t have to be a jump scare. Horror is bigger than that, and you know it. Leave us with a sense of dread, shake our nerves, and make us hate the fact that we’re sleeping alone in the house tonight…

--Sample Six Word Scares: 

SYFY is looking for videos that interpret the below options in unique, unexpected, and terrifying ways. To be safe, if you use an original Six Word Scare, you should include a back-up from the list below in your treatment.

• Top Options:
  • The casket closed. Let me out.
  • Don’t bother screaming. They won’t hear.
  • You smile. Your reflection does not.
  • No animal should make that sound.
  • The child salivated, she wanted flesh.
  • She died but didn’t know it.
  • There are eyes in the darkness.
  • Nothing prepares you for inevitable insanity….
  • It was supposed to stay buried.
  • At my funeral I rise, hungry.
  • The blood was on my pillow.
• Other Options:
  • My new look. Your old skin.
  • She kept walking. Her shadow didn’t.
  • Children laughing...we have no kids!
  • Laughter came from the empty room.
  • Last man alive hears door knocking.
  • She was buried beneath the house.

--Deliverables Due:

• One 15-second Video (16:9)
• One social-optimized GIF (1:1)
• Audio Splits & Stem Files
• Text & Graphic-free Clean Master Video

--Target Audience:

Horror and genre fans. Sure, they skew young, diverse, and metropolitan, but this ain’t about about demographics. The 50 million people who geek out over a genre show every week are all ages; all backgrounds; all shapes, sizes, and species. They are defined not by who they are, but by what they love, and this is what they love.

 

--Tone:

• Scary. Seriously, that’s the whole point.
• You should avoid graphic violence, nudity, or explicit language. 
• You should also approach it from the direction of creating something smart, edgy, provocative, maybe a little fun and self-aware. Fans take this seriously, but sometimes, horror can be a little funny too.

--Exposure:

Videos will be distributed on SYFY’s owned channels and digital platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, as well as SYFY’s website, and potentially on TV.

PRE-PRODUCTION – The Pitch Winner from the Pitch Phase will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?), which means you will be required to submit a detailed Treatment for Approval before moving onto the Video Phase. 

• TREATMENT  – You must submit a detailed treatment for your video, incorporating a description of the action, story, or narrative, as well as the tone, and prominent cinematic or production design elements that might distinguish it. If your video incorporates on-screen text or dialogue, it should also be addressed. The brand may provide feedback on your Treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Treatment is approved by the brand.

IMPORTANT: You may not begin shooting your Video until you receive a greenlight from SYFY. If you begin shooting your Video during Pre-Production, there is a chance you will need to re-do work (at your own expense), so please don’t jump the gun.

--Expected Timeline: 

Note that this is a *very* aggressive timeline, and all filmmakers will be held to strict deadlines for delivery, barring any adjustments made by SYFY after pitches have been selected.

• Pitches Selected by SYFY: September 28
• Pre-Production Phase: September 28 - October 3
• Video Phase: October 3 – October 13
• First Cut Videos Delivered to Sponsor: October 13
• Editorial Feedback from Sponsor due: October 14
• Filmmakers execute revisions: October 14 - 17
• Revised Videos Delivered to Sponsor: October 17
• Final Revised Videos Delivered: October 18 EOD

This Project will consist of 4 Phases: a Pitch Phase, a Pre-Production Phase, a Video Phase, and a Revisions 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 you should be selected to execute a Video based on the creative ask laid out above:

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this Video.
• Treatment (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what’s going to happen in the video, which may also include visual and tonal references, or mood boards. 
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The FIVE (5) most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive $3,000 to help create their Videos. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED an additional $4,000. 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 until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.  

PHASE 2: PRE-PRODUCTION – The Pitch Winner from the Pitch Phase will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?), which means you will be required to submit a detailed Treatment for Approval before moving onto the Video Phase.   

• TREATMENT – You must submit a detailed treatment for your video, incorporating a description of the action, story, or narrative, as well as the tone, and prominent cinematic or production design elements that might distinguish it. If your video incorporates on-screen text or dialogue, it should also be addressed. The brand may provide feedback on your Treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Treatment is approved by the brand.

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

PHASE 3: VIDEO – Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, all FIVE (5) Pitch Winners will create a 15-second Video, and a social-optimized GIF, based upon their winning Pitches.

NOTE: The 15-second cut-down, and social-optimized GIF, are both due at the close of the Video Phase. Please upload them as separate videos when submitting your Videos.

--Video Phase Payout: The Winners of the Video Phase will earn $4,000. There are no residuals on this project.

--Music: Tongal has partnered with the music provider Jingle Punks for this project, which can be used to source music for your Video submission. Music from Jingle Punks 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 Jingle Punks, click the name 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.

PHASE 4: REVISIONS – Once the Video Phase has closed, the winning submitters will enter the Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their Videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback. Once the Videos are finalized, the Sponsor will rank the Videos and winners will be announced.

1. The Videos MUST not exceed 15 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.