Every day, all around the world, people are forced to flee their homes because of war, conflict and persecution. They flee alone or with their families; with a few precious family mementos or simply the clothes on their back;. They face innumerable dangers – but the alternative is no alternative at all, for if they stay in their homelands they face almost certain death.

 

USA for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) is committed to helping engage Americans in the global effort to address the refugee crisis – by ensuring that Americans understand the circumstances refugees drive them from their homes and what happens in the months and years that follow: the shelter and protection they receive from UNHCR; the prospects of returning home, and how they begin to re-assemble their life in the meantime; and how they find support, build or join communities, and become members of new societies.

 

America provides more financial support to aid refugees than any other country in the world, and resettles more refugees – and will always be a leader in that regard.  But President Obama has challenged all Americans (citizens, businesses, universities, NGOs, etc) – to step up, engage and help to apply American influence and ingenuity towards solving this global crisis. 

 

That’s where you come in. Reach out to your friends and family and your community to find stories that will help Americans better understand and connect to the refugee crisis. Find a refugee who has been resettled and spotlight their story in a Video up to ninety (90) seconds in length (with a thirty (30) second cutdown). Together, we can help spread awareness of and re-frame the refugee crisis to be specific to Americans and generate opportunities for engagement by sharing the story of a refugee who resettled in America, the story of their journey, and their new life here.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• THESE MUST BE TRUE STORIES FEATURING REAL PEOPLE.
• PAYMENT FOR A STORY WIN IS CONTINGENT UPON YOUR COOPERATION WITH THE WINNING FILMMAKER SELECTED TO BRING YOUR STORY TO LIFE. YOU MAY NEED TO APPEAR IN THE FINAL VIDEO.
• If you win in the Pitch Phase, you will be required to make your own travel arrangements to film the Story winner from the previous phase.  

 

The goal of this project is to create one (1) Video up to ninety (90) seconds in length with a thirty (30) second cutdown that helps USA for UNHCR engage Americans and drive conversation around the ongoing global refugee crisis and encourages viewers to learn more at Project Hive  and Forced to Flee.

 

NOTE: This project is for Authentic Stories from real individuals or families. If you would like to submit a creative Idea, please do so at the USA for UNHCR Refugee Awareness Video Project!

--Key Marketing Messages:

• This is a global crisis that affects us all.
• These are refugees (someone fleeing war/conflict/persecution) not migrants (someone seeking a more financially-stable life)
• American values, American ideals – America’s leadership role in the world
• Refugees are just like us… save for the circumstances that forced them to flee. They are educated, connected, have families, etc.
• Forced to flee – willing to risk their lives to escape what is almost certain death if they don’t leave.

 

--Target Audience: College students, Midwesterners, anyone not currently involved in social good/charitable efforts in/around refugees. 

 

--Executional Mandatories:

• Focus on the positive aspects: how refugees granted asylum build new lives; join/start communities; add value to society.
• Encourage viewers to find out more at Project Hive  and Forced to Flee.
• Your Video should not focus on fundraising, but on generating interest and creating opportunities for engagement. Be creative!

 

--Tone: Above all, positive. Audiences should walk away from your Video inspired to learn and do more to help the refugee crisis, not disheartened by this international crisis.

 

--Exposure:

• Direct marketing: digital advertising, DRTV
• PR: highlight as part of a media campaign
• Partnerships

 

 

This Project will be worth a total of $15,000 and consists of three (3) Phases: a Story Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

 

PHASE 1: STORY  – Tell us your Story for the Hive Refugee Awareness Authentic Story Project in 500 characters or less.  Remember, a Story (What is an Story Phase?) is not a detailed script; it is a spark of inspiration, or a distillation of what will happen in the Video.  As always, Stories should be clever and engaging.  The winning Story creator will receive $1,000 and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Video based on their Story. (That means if your winning Story is the basis for the Video, you will receive an additional $550.) See Video Phase Payout details for more information. 

 

Note: PAYMENT FOR A STORY WIN IS CONTINGENT UPON YOUR COOPERATION WITH THE WINNING FILMMAKER SELECTED TO BRING YOUR STORY TO LIFE. YOU MAY NEED TO APPEAR IN THE FINAL VIDEO.

 

The winning Story creator will receive $1,000 each. Payment for a win in the Story phase is contingent on your completion of the Winner’s Affidavit, the IP Assignment, and cooperation with the winning filmmaker selected to bring your Story to life in the subsequent Pitch Phase.

 

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:

• 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.
• Script (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create. 
• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 
• 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 one most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive $3,000 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 $11,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to the eligible Story winner). 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 3: VIDEO – The  Pitch winner from the Pitch Phase will create a Video up to ninety (90) seconds in length based upon their winning Pitch.

NOTE: he ninety (90) second Video and thirty (30) cutdown are both due at the close of the Video Phase. Please upload them as separate videos when submitting your Videos.

 

--Video Phase Payout: The Winner of the Video Phase will earn $11,000.

 

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Audioblocks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. 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.

 

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.  

 

 

 

 

1. The Video MUST not exceed ninety (90) 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 twenty-five (25) 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.