Let’s talk about dogs.

Dogs are pretty much the greatest thing ever: they’re fun, silly, sweet, floofy, and most importantly, loyal. When you’re sad, they’re there for a hug. When you need a workout buddy, they’re always ready to go for a jog, walk, or hike. And they’ll never tell you not to sing in the shower.

Of course, for many, a dog is much more than a fun, loyal friend – especially for veterans with visual impairments and post-traumatic stress disorder, their dog is a dependable guide and a constant companion.

And that’s where Southeastern Guide Dogs comes in. This national nonprofit leads the pack (not sorry) with their approach to canine development and behavior research to breed, raise, and train guide dogs and service dogs for people living with significant challenges, especially veterans with disabilities. SEGD even provides on-campus training for their recipients and lifetime graduate follow-up. And they do it all at no cost to their recipients, with full funding from private donations, not the government. 

Of course, the real benchmark of success for Southeastern Guide Dogs isn’t their incredible research into canine development and behavior; it isn’t even really the donations. It’s how many people are able to lead full, vibrant, productive lives after being paired with a dog from Southeastern Guide Dogs. Because at the end of the day, SEGD’s mission is to create and nurture extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs.

At this point, you’re probably jumping to find out how you can get involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs and help them help more veterans in need of a guide dog or service dog. So read on to the Project Objectives for more…

The goal of this project is to create a :30 PSA for national broadcast (with five stills) that raises awareness about Southeastern Guide Dogs while encouraging veterans who are visually impaired or living with post-traumatic stress disorder to apply for a guide dog or service dog.

We’ve only scratched the surface of what Southeastern Guide Dogs does in this brief; to learn more about their nose-to-tail (still not sorry) services, check out their website, guidedogs.org.

Filmmakers, your PSA should tell the story of a guide dog or service dog trained to give a wounded veteran their life back. That can be a pretty incredible thing – when paired with the right guide dog or service dog, people really can get a new lease on life. Ultimately, the message of your video should be aimed at veterans with visual impairment or post-traumatic stress disorder, letting them know that Southeastern Guide Dogs is there to help.

 

NOTE ON CASTING: 

Southeastern Guide Dogs can provide a yellow Labrador and, if needed, a certified trainer for your video. If needed, SEGD can also put the Pitch winner in touch with a veteran who has graduated from Southeastern Guide Dogs and their guide or service dog.

Think creatively about how your Video will share this message; you can use VO, an on-screen host or narrator, or any other device to frame the story of a SEGD guide or service dog.

This is a fantastic opportunity to not only produce a broadcast spot, but help a fantastic cause at the same time.

NOTE: The dog must be a yellow Labrador. Southeastern Guide Dogs can provide the dog and the certified trainer to accompany the dog.

 

PRE-PRODUCTION NOTE: This project includes a Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). This means you will be required to submit certain items for Approval before moving onto the Video Phase. The Approval items for this project are:

• SCRIPT  – This project requires Script Approval before filmmakers move on to the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your Script and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Script is approved by the brand.
  
  
• CASTING/VO  – This project requires Casting/VO Approval before filmmakers move on to the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If your Pitch only includes VO talent, you must include links to two VO talent options. If the brand does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options.
  
  
• STORYBOARD OR SHOTLIST - This project requires Storyboard or Shotlist Approval before filmmakers move on to the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version of the storyboard.
  

IMPORTANT: 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, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense) so please don’t jump the gun.

If you’re selected as a Pitch Winner, a Tongal producer will email you to help walk you through the Pre-Production and Approvals process.

NOTE: The :30 PSA TVC and five stills are all due at the close of the Video Phase.

--Key Marketing Messages: 

• Extraordinary dogs, transforming lives.
• Changing lives, one dog at a time.
• Highly trained dogs for those who can’t see and those who have seen too much.
• Whether guiding a veteran with vision loss or helping one with post-traumatic stress disorder face the outside world again, SEGD dogs make all the difference in the world.

--Target Audience:   Veterans who are visually impaired or living with post-traumatic stress disorder, and their families and friends; Potential private donors across the country.

--Executional Mandatories:

• A yellow Labrador retriever should appear in the PSA as either a guide dog or service dog. Southeastern Guide Dogs can provide the dog and the certified trainer to accompany the dog.
• SEGD’s dogs are a very visual part of their brand and should appear at some point.
• Guide Dogs wear a harness, leash and collar. Service dogs wear a blue vest, leash and collar.
• The Southeastern Guide Dogs logo must appear at least once.

--Tone:   Patriotic and uplifting.

If your video were to be inspired by a movie, it would be the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. SEGD hears constantly that the unbreakable bond that servicemen depend on in the military is found again when veterans receive a SEGD dog.

 

--Exposure:   National broadcast; SEGD’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

 

--Insipration:    Check out these videos on veterans who have been matched with a guide dog or service dog and graduated from Southeastern Guide Dogs:

Morgan and Foley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAvknXT1LK4

Mike and Treasure:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL2XGkGTsmY

Kathy Champion and George: http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/pup-close-and-personal/#segd

 

Project Details: This Project will be worth a total of $10,000 and consists of four 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 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. 
• 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.
• Headshots/Casting Boards (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, etc.
• 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 most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive $5,000 to help create the Video. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winner 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. 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 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:

• SCRIPT  – This project requires Script Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your Script and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Script is approved by the brand.
• CASTING/VO   – This project requires Headshot Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If your Pitch only includes VO talent, you must include links to two VO talent options. If the brand does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options.
• STORYBOARD OR SHOTLIST - This project requires Storyboard or Shotlist Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version of the storyboard.

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, 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, the Pitch Winner will create a 30-second Video based upon their winning Pitch.

--Video Phase Payout:   At the end of the Video Phase, the Pitch Winner will earn $5,000 as the Video Prize.

 

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with a premiere music provider: Jingle Punks! Tracks from Jingle Punks can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. Music from this provides 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 this music provider, click on their 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.

--Referral:   Any Tongal member who refers the winning Video creator in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won (up to $500). That’s a potential $250 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

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

1. The Video MUST not exceed 30 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 10 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 Video 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.