Introducing the Tongal Filmmaker Resource Portal

Tongal believes creativity drives human potential and that everyone has the potential to be creative. As a team, we're dedicated to ensuring your success and supporting you as you advance your career - whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned professional. That's why we’ve developed the Filmmaker Resources Portal. 

This suite of tools was designed to make you post-production and delivery processes stress-free. In this blog post, we're giving you a preview of the full suite of resources you'll find in the Tongal Filmmaker Resources Portal. We'd encourage you to get familiar with these resources and incorporate them into your next project, so that you can focus on what matters most – CREATING!

Text-Safe Images

Content is considered text-safe if all text in your video fits into the frame. To display content, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter each use unique layouts. Additionally, the buttons that allow users to engage with the content (think: like, share, and comment) have different placements on each of these platforms.

Before you deliver your work, use these text-safe guides to ensure none of your writing lands out of frame or behind one of these buttons. All you’ve got to do is layer the semi-transparent image over your timeline. Then, play your video to make sure your text is contained within, “The Green Zone.”

Organizing Your Project Files Tutorial

From beginning to end, the organization of your project matters. Take a look at these helpful tips that you can implement to succeed on Tongal or other platforms you may create for in the future. 

Delivering Your Project Files Tutorial

Footage, graphics, audio, music and font files are just as important to our post-production team as your editing file (.proj). When you send your final project files to Tongal, we ask that you include all of these components, and encourage you to link all your project’s assets to your timeline. Once approved, we can archive them. Check out this click-by-click tutorial to learn how to do this with ease.

Export Presets & Preset Installation Tutorial

Want to automate your export settings so that your work always meets Tongal’s Specification Details? Now it’s possible!

Export Presets (.epr) are files that can be imported into your export window to automatically set the export settings for you. With just a few clicks, you can streamline your entire export process. Here are downloadable presets and a click-by-click tutorial to get you going!

Specification Details

Specification Detail (sometimes shortened to Spec Detail) is a document that lays out all of the attributes that your final video should contain. This could include, but is not limited to, frames per second, progressive vs interlaced, frame size, etc. Here at Tongal, we have our own online and broadcast specification details, which you can find here.

Note: We still recommend you use the Export Presets from the previous entry, so it takes the guesswork out of the master creation process.

Uploading Masters Tutorial

Your “masters” are your final deliverables, which should include all video, audio, image, and caption files that will ultimately be sent to the project’s sponsor. We recommend that you follow the steps listed in this tutorial the next time you’re about to submit your final deliverables for a Tongal project. 

Captions Information

In the event that the project you absolutely crushed uses caption files (typically .srt and .vtt files), you can consult one of the many services that will create these files for you. We tend to point filmmakers to Rev, which can help you move through the process with ease and at a low cost. You can find a more detailed guide regarding captions here.

First Cut, Sponsor Notes and Revisions Tutorial

The first cut submission will go to the project’s sponsor. To ensure your first cut is buttoned-up, remember to:

• Add all the clips that play a role in telling the visual story agreed upon during the pre-production approvals phase. You may include a “director’s cut” after this first version is delivered, but be sure to chat with your Tongal Producer prior to doing so.
• Utilize place cards for work-in-progress materials, such as bumpers and special effects. 
• Smooth out the audio. There’s no need to do a full audio mix, just make sure things are audible and generally level. 
• Wait until the Sponsor approves the music and sound effects you intend to use before you buy the tracks. The best time to purchase music and effects is after your content is deemed "locked," which means that there are no more edits for you to integrate.
• Verify if you have access to free audio libraries by reviewing the project brief.

After submitting your first cut, you’ll typically receive notes and will want to begin making revisions. We’ve got you covered with a revision tutorial located here!

Glossary

Does the term “drop-frame timecode” make you scratch your head? Check out our video terminology glossary. It is the cheat sheet you've been searching for.

We're here to help! We know that, for newer filmmakers, this may be very new information to you. If you have questions, reach out to us at assets@tongal.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!