Thomas the Tank Engine has touched many hearts for over 65 years. While the brand is rooted in a rich history, it is as equally focused on its modern, dynamic future. Children engage with Thomas through fascinating stories filled with of wonder, excitement, energy, imagination, discovery, and adventure. People of all ages relate to Thomas—whether they watched it when they were young, or watch it now with their children and grandchildren. Everyone has their own connection to Thomas the tank engine and his friends. The themes of humor and friendship transcend age and personalities; everyone has a connection to this cheeky engine.
Through a compelling video, tell us what Thomas & Friends means to you. How does the magic of Thomas’ world break through the screen and into your everyday lives? Focus on how the wonder and adventure are relevant in today’s world, for today’s children and families.
--Key Marketing Messages: Thomas the Tank Engine is just as engaging today as it was when it was first published 70 years ago. Thomas is focused on moving forward into the future with his many fans and growing with his new emerging fan base.
--Target Audience: Families
--Executional Mandatories: Thomas the Tank Engine should be at the heart of every story.
--Tone: Imaginative, powerful
--Exposure: Digital channels
This Project will be worth a total of $45,000 and consists of three Phases: an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.
PHASE 1: IDEA – Tell us your Idea for a What Does Thomas Mean to You video in 140 characters or less. Remember, an Idea (What is an Idea Phase?) is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the Video. As always, Ideas should be clever and engaging. The winning Idea creators will receive $250 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Video(s) based on their Idea. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the 1st place Video, you will receive $900, the 2nd place Video $450, the 3rd place Video $387.50, and the 4th place Video, $250– see Video Phase Payout details for more information.
PHASE 2: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What Is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Video based on one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase using:
The 3 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $1,500 to help create the Video. 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 $5,000, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $18,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Idea winners). 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 3: VIDEO – The 3 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a 90 second-3 minute Video based upon their winning Pitch. All other creators are invited to enter a Wildcard (What Is a Wildcard?) submission that can be based on one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase or a totally original concept that is not based on any winning material from the Idea Phase. The Judges will score all Wildcard submissions and the 1 highest scoring Wildcard Video along with the 3 winning Videos submitted by Pitch winners will be scored to determine the standings for the Video Phase. Remember, the 3 Pitch winners, along with 1 Wildcard creator, will receive prizes.
--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $18,000, 2nd place $9,000, 3rd place $7,750, and 4th place $5,000 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Idea winners, as applicable).
--Music: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audiosocket, Killer Tracks and Music Dealers. 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 three 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 $1587.50 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.
1. This Contest is only open to Members aged 18 and over.
2. The Videos MUST not exceed 3 minutes in length. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Should you win, you will also be required to provide a 1080p master file. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX.
3. Except as permitted by item 4, your submission must be wholly original to you and never submitted to any other party or contest.
4. Your submission must be created without the use of: (i) any property, materials, or rights of any third party, unless you have the necessary rights, permissions or authorizations to use such property, materials, or rights (in writing through your use of the Tongal-provided clearance forms; or (ii) any other person’s contributions, unless you have such person’s written permission (in writing through your use of the Tongal-provided clearance forms). You shall provide detailed information of your submission or any part thereof regarding the source, the creator and background information upon request by Tongal.
5. If you incorporate music into your submission, you are permitted to use only your original music or Tongal-licensed music that is specifically made available to you for your use in your submission.
6. Videos must be in the English language.
7. Sponsor is entitled to and may request one round of reasonable revisions to one or more of the four (4) winning Video Entries without providing additional compensation to the winning Members. If revisions are requested, Tongal will provide a reasonable period of time for the Member(s), of whom Sponsor requests revisions, to perform the revisions and to provide the revised Video Entry to Tongal for final judging. Further, if revisions are requested, it will occur after the winning Video Entries have been determined, but before the standings are announced to the Tongal community. The revisions will not factor into the selection of the final four (4) winning Video Entries, but they may factor into the standins among those four (4) winning Video Entries. Remember, it’s easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
8. 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 copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a QuickTime .mov file in uncompressed, Animation or ProRes HQ codec at 1920x1080 to claim your prize.
9. Submissions must not portray the Sponsor or the Thomas & Friends brand in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor and the Judges.
10. Limit 5 submission(s) per Member, per phase.
11. Minimum 50 Pitches, or the contest will repost for 14 days.
12. You cannot enter a submission if you currently work or have ever worked for a toy company.
13. You cannot enter a submission if you currently work for, or have other obligations to, a party that would have any ownership or other interest in the submission or your submission would violate any rights of that party or would be contrary to any of your obligations to that party.
14. You understand that your submission is not being submitted to Sponsor in confidence or in trust and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between you and Sponsor by submission of your entry. Your submission will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary. Sponsor finds that many submissions that it receives, including those from professionals, are already in the public domain; or are identical or substantially similar to products developed or in development by Sponsor’s own staff; or, for a host of many other reasons, are not novel or unique. You acknowledge and agree that Sponsor’s use of other material containing elements similar to or identical with those contained in your submission will not obligate Sponsor to negotiate with you or entitle you to any compensation and Sponsor will not be liable to you in any way.
15. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES SOLELY THE PROPERTY OF TONGAL – 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 WEB SITE 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.
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.