Bilbo Baggins™ began the journey of a lifetime when he joined the quest to help Gandalf™ & The Company of Thorin Oakenshield™ reclaim The Lonely Mountain and take back the treasure from Smaug™. This unexpected journey takes The Company through numerous twists and turns, riddled with excitement and hazards, toward their goal.
Teaming up with Tongal, LEGO wants YOU to show why you’re the ultimate Hobbit™ fan with the LEGO The Hobbit Video Project. The Hobbit universe is huge and so are the possibilities! We want you to help bring the exciting worlds of The Shire™, Rivendell™, Misty Mountains and Mirkwood to life with your twist on new adventures and stories. So stop eating your honey-cake, throw your shoes away, and get on your feet, like a Hobbit!
This project is sponsored by LEGO Systems, Inc., 555 Taylor Road, Enfield, CT 06082.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, and the Minifigure figurine are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group of Companies. Copyright 2013 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.
THE HOBBIT: DESOLATION OF SMAUG: Copyright NLP™ Middle-earth Ent. Lic. To New Line. (s13)
The goal is to produce fun and engaging 2-3 minute Videos using LEGO The Hobbit minifigures and sets to explore new adventures, undiscovered lands and unique characters. Videos should be fresh, memorable, and sharable while staying in the world of Middle-earth.
Keep in mind that LEGO is:
1.) Looking for humorous (but not silly) content filled with action, adventure and excitement.
2.) Videos should be sharable and raise awareness that there are LEGO The Hobbit models and collectible minifigures that look like “the real thing” for Hobbit™ fans who may not have played with them before.
3.) Videos must not depict excessive violence.
4.) Characters are not allowed dialogue.
5.) Content should be appropriate for all ages.
-- Target Audience: Videos should appeal to kids 8-11 and also appeal to web audiences and adults who love LEGO and fans of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. We're looking for FUN, new, and must-see/must-forward executions.
-- Exposure: The winning videos will be used online on LEGO.com, the LEGO YouTube channel and LEGO Facebook page.
-- Executional Mandatories: The Vidoes must stay within LEGO The Hobbit Environment.
This project will be worth a total of $20,000 and consist of three phases: an Idea Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Any written text should be in English, with no direct dialogue. Submissions should reference the content provided by LEGO, length requirements, third-party materials, etc.
PHASE 1: IDEA – Tell us your Idea for a LEGO The Hobbit 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 his/her Idea. (That means if your winning Idea is the basis for the 1st place Video, you will receive $475, the 2nd place Video $225, the 3rd place Video $162 – 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:
• 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 (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, scripts, casting notes, anything that helps get your point across.
• 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 $750 to help create the Video. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winner(s) 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 $3,250, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $9,500 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 2 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a 2-3 Minute Video based upon his/her 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 Idea(s) 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 highest scoring Wildcard Video along with the 2 winning Videos submitted by Pitch winners will be scored to determine the standings for the Video Phase. Remember, the 2 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 $9,500, 2nd place $4,500, 3rd place $3,250 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Idea 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 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 $862.50 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.
1. The Video 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.
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 10 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 Video(s) 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.