Happy 2015, Tongalers! It’s a time of self-reflection and we’ve found a way to keep Tongal on your minds (and in your hearts) this New Year by helping you make a New Year’s resolution! As the saying goes: “New Year, New You, New Pitches!”
A little refresher: The Pitch Phase of a Tongal Project is your chance to show the Sponsor how you’d make an engaging Video that’s perfect for their needs. The Sponsor selects the best Pitches and those creators are given a production advance to go and produce their Video. Once their Video is completed, those creators are then guaranteed one of the prizes in the following Video phase. So, in the spirit of “fresh starts,” we thought we’d give you these useful tips to help you knock that Pitch out of the park!
Tip: Read the Brief
...Then read it again! Pay extra close attention to the Executional Mandatories, as these are important indicators of what the brand definitely DOES and DOES NOT want in the Video.
Tip: Make a Pitch Video
Nothing says, “I can make this happen” like a short Pitch video explaining how you plan to tackle the production of your piece. It’s both a way to personalize your take and show off your cinematic technique.
Some great examples include: La Femme Chic for Sole Society by Bobby Webster and 3 Artists & 5000 Legos by the Indie Machines
Tip: Use Images or a Storyboard
Clear, eye-catching visuals go a long way. Another way to convey “the look” of your final Video or to hit upon more specific story-telling aspects is to upload some stills or put a storyboard together. Also, if you have an idea of who you’d cast, submit their headshots with your Pitch -- but make sure that you can deliver if you win!
Check out these examples: Moodboard for Oral-B by Stephan Malik, Pitch with Storyboard for Phillips Norelco by Brendan Beachman and PDF Pitch for Pantene New Hair New You by Don Broida
Tip: Back it up
Links to your reel and/or past work are necessary! The Sponsors want to get a sense of your capabilities. Submit work that’s relevant to the Project at hand. For example, if you’re pitching for an animation spot, show the Sponsor you have the chops by including your past animation work. We recognize that you might not always have previous work that’s specifically relevant, but always include any past work that shows what you can do. Remember, you’re trying to convince the Sponsor to finance your Video production (so giving them more reasons to do so is better than less)!
Tip: Pitch, Pitch and Pitch again!
Don't give up! We operate on an open contest platform, and it’s a level playing field. That being said, Tongal is very competitive and the more you Pitch, odds are, the more likely you are to win. It’s worth noting that previous winners are likely to land the job because the judges know that they can work effectively off of a creative brief, work within a set of limitations, and will deliver on time.
Tip: Make a Wildcard Video
Whether you’re a newer Tongaler or having some difficulty winning during the Pitch phase, a great way to break in is to submit a Wildcard Video! Some of our legendary Tongalers owe their first Tongal win to a Wildcard submission, and have since found success pitching on the site!
These tips should help give you a clear sense of what we’re looking for in your Pitches! We know the process can be overwhelming sometimes, but it’s also an awesome opportunity to bring your creative ‘A Game,’ embrace the competition, and push yourself to be the best. We also want you to know that even by submitting to Tongal, you’re leaps and bounds ahead of many filmmakers out there. Let's do this!
