Valley of the Boom, to be released on the National Geographic Channel in early 2019, covers the explosive, game-changing emergence of Silicon Valley in the 1990’s through the 2001 dot-com bust. You can watch the first trailer here!
Valley of the Boom will reveal some of the real stories of friendships, rivalries, successes, failures – all told with unparalleled access to the most iconic personalities in the tech world. This was a time when the industry churned out millionaires overnight, almost every night, and it was raucous and thrilling. Everyone wanted a piece of it, but soon, with so many people pouring in and development booming, the online market formed a figurative bubble. And just like any other bubble, when the dot com bubble couldn’t sustain itself any longer, it burst… and it burst big time, bankrupting scores of companies and littering Silicon Valley with the husks of dead tech startups and failed online retailers.
Bummer, right? But hey, bursting bubbles make for awesome visuals, and that’s why you’re here! National Geographic wants to make a suite of short social videos about different kinds of bubbles popping, so they’re asking you to pitch something really fun and creative – something that takes the visual and runs with it, as a nod to the dot com burst. It could be any kind of bubble or popping you can imagine, and it’s probably a great excuse to experiment and bust out some oddball camera tricks and weird lens packages. Just no pimples, please. Ew.
The suite’s got some unique deliverable asks, so when you’re ready to pop, check out more in the details below...
The goal of this project is to create a short social suite with eleven (11) videos that use the visual of bubbles popping to help promote National Geographic’s new TV series, Valley of the Boom, by alluding to the dot-com bubble burst of the early 2000’s. The suite will include five (5) 15-second Instagram videos in a 1:1 aspect ratio; as well as five (5) 6-second YouTube pre-roll videos in a 16:9 aspect ratio; and one (1) 15-second Instagram Story video that should combine multiple short videos of bubbles popping (because we want people to be able to tap through a story with several bubble pops).
We expect that you’ll want to film at least 5 or 6 different types of bubble visuals – each visual can be used for both an Instagram video, as well as a YouTube Pre-Roll Video, and then the entire string of visuals can be combined for the Instagram Story video. We say “visual,” because it’s not necessarily the case that each video is simply a single shot of one bubble popping – you can be more creative in how you’re depicting the bubbles popping, what causes them to pop, what medium, format, or style you use to depict the popping, and what scale we’re filming at when we see the bubbles popping. Yes, 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation are totally cool. Since we'll be headed towards the holiday season when this content runs, you might also want to consider making a couple bubbles timely for events like Christmas & New Years, although this is not a mandatory.
Remember though, the core concept is that you’re making a nod to the dot-com bubble burst, and that should be clear to a viewer. Additionally, the end of each video should include a short call-to-action that will drive viewers to watch Valley of the Boom, so think about whether you want to integrate that practically, or on-screen with graphics.
Last big thing - please review best practices for Facebook and Instagram videos here!
--Target Audience: Adults 25-54
--Exposure: National Geographic social & owned channels.
This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. You can download the Budget template here. National Geographic would like you to create the entire social video suite within a cost range of $10,000 to $15,000 in total.
This Project consists of 5 of Phases: a Pitch Phase, a Pre-Production Phase, a Video Phase, a Revisions Phase, and an Asset Delivery Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.
National Geographic will determine whether it will select a winning submission.
Rough cuts due to Tongal: 11/13
Tongal feedback: 11/16
Fine cuts due to NG: 11/19
NG feedback on rough cuts: 11/26
Revisions: 11/26-11/30
Picture Lock cuts due to NG: 11/30
Final feedback from NG due: 12/5
Final cuts due to NG: 12/10
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 one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase using:
TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this Video.
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): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.
BID & BUDGET (REQUIRED): Feel free to download and use the Tongal budget template here.
BUBBLE IDEAS (REQUIRED): Send us a list of the 5 or 6 bubbles you would show popping.
Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them 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, animatic, etc. are welcome.
The most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive a portion of their budget to help create the Video.
Please note the payment of the Pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. This payment schedule will include milestones for pre-production, production, and post-production, and payments will be issued based upon reaching these milestones for each Video (or batch of Videos).
Final payment will be contingent upon submitting Videos that satisfy the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor.
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?). During this phase, filmmakers will need to receive the following Approvals from the brand:
TREATMENT – This project requires Treatment Approval before filmmakers can move onto the Video Phase. The treatment should describe how you plan to execute the video and how you plan to bring the storytelling to life visually. The sponsor 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 all Approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your Video during the Pre-Production Phase before you have received final approval, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense).
For your convenience we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a Treatment, Production Budget, Storyboards, Shot List, Call Sheet, and a Music Cue Sheet. They can all be accessed here.
PHASE 3: VIDEO – Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, the Pitch Winner will create five (5) 15-second Instagram videos in a 1:1 aspect ratio; as well as five (5) 6-second YouTube pre-roll videos in a 16:9 aspect ratio; and one (1) 15-second Instagram Story video, all based upon their winning Pitch.
--Video Phase Payout: Upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor the Pitch winner will receive final payment.
--Music: If you plan to source music from a library you will be required to use music from National Geographic’s provider, Extreme Music, which will be available to you at no charge solely for music incorporated into Submissions for this project. More details on this provider will be provided once you enter pre-production.
National Geographic also has an overall licensing agreement with Bleeding Fingers, which you may use for original music, but you must contact them to get a quote and cover the cost.
If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit National Geographic's Music Commission Agreement.
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.
PHASE 5: ASSETS DELIVERY – You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment. You will be responsible for the costs associated the hard drive (if necessary) and shipping.
For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production please click here.
1. The Video 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 be selected as winner, 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, 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 award.
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.