What The World Needs NOW: A NEW Christmas Classic!
They don’t seem to happen that often do they?
The classic Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer stop motion animation? 1964.
A Charlie Brown Christmas? One year later.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? 1966…
The Year Without Santa Claus...and the pure Rankin and Bass genius of The Heat Miser? 1974.
A Christmas Story? That has to be recent…right? Right?? Uh…30 years gone.
You may ask yourself (we have asked ourselves) where are the classics of TODAY???
Oh, we know, we know -- sure: Christmas is in some magical way always about the past. It’s a time when we take stock, feel grateful for everyone we know and love, remember our own traditions and our own childhoods. It’s a time when we remember especially those who’ve passed on. So we tend to look backwards at these times and revel in the classics we have. They give us comfort, and make Christmas what it is.
But...still. Are you starting to hear the jingling bells of your creative spirit??
Because yeah: why them, and not us?? Why not YOU? The Tongal Creative Community!! The single most powerful creative force on the planet??
Tell us a Story that could become the NEXT GREAT CHRISTMAS CLASSIC!
We see that twinkle in your eye. We KNOW-HO-HO that your creative drive is MOTIVATED and ENERGIZED by audacious challenges! And they just don’t get any more audacious than this one:
Tell us a Story that could become the NEXT GREAT CHRISTMAS CLASSIC! Then bring it to life via your Pitch, which includes Concept Art and, finally, as an Animation Test.
Think Toys, Think Magic, Think Stop Motion Animation, Think Heart-Warming Black and White, Technicolor, Donner and Blitzen, Burl Ives and Bumbles Bouncing, and Boris Karloff’s heart growing ten times that day.
Think about your childhood, your kid’s childhood, your parents, your cousins all over the globe and all over the galaxy…
And it probably wouldn’t hurt to think…WWPD (What Would Pixar Do)?
Tell us a Story that could become the NEXT GREAT CHRISTMAS CLASSIC!
This project will be worth a total of $12,000 in cash and consists of three phases: a Story Phase, a Pitch Phase amd an Animation Test Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.
PHASE 1: STORY – Tell us YOUR Classic Christmas Story in 500 characters or less. The winning Story creators will receive $500 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Animation based on his/her Story. That means if your winning Story is the basis for the 1st place Animation, you will receive $250, the 2nd place Animation $125, and the 3rd place Animation $75 - see Animation 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 an Animation test based on one of the winning Stories from the previous Phase using:
• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less summarizing how you plan to approach and execute this Video.
• Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work, showreel, etc.
• Images (REQUIRED): Concept art is required for participation in this phase of the project. Should you win in this phase of the project, your concept art should inform your animation test in the subsequent project phase.
• 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 2 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $1,000 to help create the Animation Test. 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 Animation Phase. So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Animation submission, you will win an additional $1,500, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $5,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Story 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: ANIMATION TEST – The 2 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create an Animation test (at least 30 seconds in length) based upon his/her winning Pitch and Concept Art. All other creators are invited to enter a Wildcard (What Is a Wildcard?) submission that can be based on one of the winning Stories from the previous Phase or a totally original concept that is not based on any winning material from the Story Phase. The Judges will score all Wildcard submissions and the highest scoring Wildcard Animation Test along with the 2 winning Animation Tests submitted by Pitch winners will move forward. Remember, the 2 Pitch winners, along with the 1 Wildcard creator, will receive prizes.
-- Animation Test Phase Payout: Winners of the Animation Test Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $5,000, 2nd place $2,500, and 3rd place $1,500 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Story winner(s), 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 Animators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won up to $500. Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.
1. The Animaton Test MUST be at least 30 seconds 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.
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. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
8. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
9. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
10. In the event that fewer than 25 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.
11. 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.
12. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Animation Tests without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
13. 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.
14. 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.