Background

The TZGZ team put together some example topics & dialogue as a reference. DO NOT USE THESE FOR YOUR PITCH. They're simply reflections of the directions you *might* take with your pitch. 


The TZGZ block itself consists of old favorites like Futurama, acquired web series like Purgatony, and some original content. The night is wrapped with interstitials that focus on truly strange WTF characters, concepts, and animation to give TZGZ a unique and comedic tone throughout the night. It's a little trippy, indulges in being irreverent, and always very funny. 


TZGZ INTERSTITIAL CONTENT FOR REFERENCE:


ASSETS: 

Objectives

Do yourself a favor and imagine that everything you're about to read is being whispered softly in your ear by a naked little stoned gremlin. Ready?


TZGZ is SYFY's late night animated comedy block - hilarious, weird, twisted, trippy, irreverent, self-aware, and very adult. ASMR, or as the science officer might say, autonomous sensory meridian response, is the tingly euphoric feeling you get at the back of your neck when you listen to certain audio stimuli. If you don't know it, go down this rabbit hole on YouTube and come back to us. SYFY is looking for 3 short animated videos that'll bring the weird and satisfying of ASMR to the weird and hilarious of TZGZ.


You have permission to go wild - the topics, the script, the visuals, the stimuli. The more unexpected the topic the better, and abstract visuals can work just as well as anything else. Plus, your animation doesn't even need to be that sophisticated, and the use of stock video or photography (with animation!) can work too. Just know that scripting and dialogue are important, so think: is this a description of the most soothing alien aural probing you can imagine? Or a manticore's meditation on man meat? Only you have the answers. 


Whatever you do, know that there's a chance SYFY will want to take your video and loop it with the SFX, so incorporate some ASMR-style sound effects and sound design underneath the dialogue that lends itself to that, for an extended relaxation experience. Check out more abut TZGZ in the Background/Additional Details. 


NOTE: SYFY's looking for three videos, but they're open to an individual filmmaker making more than one, so if you have more than one good idea (or even a repeatable idea), feel free to submit multiple pitches.

 

DELIVERABLES:

 

TIMELINE: 

 

EXPOSURE: Videos will air on SYFY during TZGZ programming, and also be posted on SYFY.com, as well on SYFY’s digital and social platforms.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE:  Adult fans of comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and genre content

 

TONE: Relaxing, soothing, weird, hilarious, provocative, mind-bending, absurdist, playful, a little off-kilter.

 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

Details

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. 

 



Consider checking out our Pitch Video Gallery to see examples of effective pitch videos. 

Requirements

  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. 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. 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.