Are you up for a little challenge? We hope so because Tongal and Sundance Co//ab have teamed up for the Pitch Yourself! Challenge. Now through December 16, we’re inviting all creators to exercise their pitch muscles by producing a 1-2 minute pitch video for a short story, short film or docu-short that quickly conveys the premise, tone, characters, creative execution, and/or why they're uniquely positioned to tell this story.
Not only is this a great way to get more comfortable communicating and rallying people behind your vision for a project, there are also some pretty swanky prizes up for grabs including:
$250 Creator Grant towards your project
One digital festival pass to access the 2021 Sundance Film Festival
Your work featured on Sundance Co//ab
A one-on-one mentorship session with a Sundance Advisor
Sundance Co//ab Annual Membership
Final Draft screenwriting software (12-month license)
We caught up with Ryan Reyes, who is responsible for leading the challenges as part of his role in Artist Support at Sundance Institute, to learn more about building community through friendly competition and what the jurors - including Tongal Producer Catherine Chiocchi - will be looking for as they review submissions.
If you’re stumped for how to approach a Pitch Video, check out some of our favorite past examples from the Tongal community here. Then, press record on your camera (a smartphone is perfectly fine, too!) and paint a mental picture that will get the jury excited about supporting your project.
Marissa: What is the mission of Sundance Co//ab and how did you get involved with the organization?
Ryan: I began working in the Sundance Labs 3 years ago and, eventually, I began to hear rumblings about a new platform that was coming called Sundance Co//ab. It immediately caught my attention because of the way it aimed to open Sundance and its resources to the rest of the world. At Sundance Co//ab we’re striving to create a community where emerging artists are educated and empowered to tell their stories. We want to meet artists where they are in their own development so we offer a range of engagement options from 8-week courses to Master Classes, Webinars, Advisor Q&As, and more.
We also understand that finding community can be challenging for artists so we want to help form new networks by connecting creators around the world. This happens all around the site in our Writers’ Cafe, courses, and events. I’m especially excited to see this aspect of the work continue to deepen with some big ideas in 2021.
M: We're excited to be co-sponsoring the December Challenge with you. What is the purpose of these monthly challenges and why should creators get involved?
R: The monthly challenge is one of my favorite areas of the site because we get to see new work that is created each month by our community! I love the challenge because it stimulates our collective imagination in various ways while also providing a platform for our community members to be seen and learn more about each other through their work. Each month we feature a new prompt and the challenge submissions are collectively viewed thousands of times by our community as well as reviewed individually by our jury to select one overall winner and two runners-up. The top three submissions are featured in our newsletter and on the Co//ab site and receive prizes to help further the submitter’s artistic development.
M: The theme this month is Pitch Videos, something our community is quite adept at creating. How can creators stand out in this challenge?
R: We’re so excited to hear from the Tongal community on this challenge! We hope it provides a way for everyone to express themselves and their creative vision. We really want to feel your individuality during the pitch to help us understand not just why this story needs to be told but why you are the person to tell it. While all forms of pitch videos are welcome, I think that getting creative with your delivery will go a long way in helping your submission stand out to the jury. Finally, be sure to provide that hook that makes your pitch stick in our minds, allows us to care about your project, and hope that we can see it developed soon!
M: It's all about making a strong impression! Just for fun before we go: When was the last time you stopped dead in your tracks because something bowled you over and made an immediate positive impression?
R: I had a lot of fun thinking about this so I may have to cheat here and offer more than one thing. I think one of the silver linings of 2020 for me has been reconnecting with the ability to slow down and appreciate the smaller details of life that I may have overlooked before. As a result, I’ve actually found myself bowled over by quite a bit lately as I go on walks and have gotten to admire the art and architecture of my city that I may have rushed past before.
On a pop culture note, I’ve really been missing live music so I’ve been playing a lot of Tiny Desk Concerts lately and Tash Sultana, Khruangbin, and Michael Kiwanuka all bowled me over right out of the gate. I wish I had a fraction of their guitar skills!
Thanks, Ryan! We’re excited to check out those recommendations while we watch the Pitch Yourself! Challenge submissions roll in.
