Create an original five to nine-minute Short set within the universe of legendary sci-fi horror film, Alien.
That's right, Tongalers, we’re giving you the chance to create your own original story set in the biggest horror franchise of all time: Alien! Go ahead. Run outside and scream with excitement if you want to (just don’t do it in space). But then hurry back here and pay close attention to this Brief because we’ve got a lot to cover.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Alien, 20th Century Fox is tapping six visionary filmmakers in the Tongal Community to produce their own original short videos set in the aftermath of the original film.
Fox wants a wholly original story with completely new characters but your Pitch should draw on all the things that made the original Alien so groundbreaking. Think about all the unique qualities of the movie before crafting your story:
We are looking first and foremost for great original short narrative stories told through your own unique creative lens. The winning Shorts will be released online to an intensely loyal and devoted Alien fan base.
Please read the remainder of this Brief for all of the important details and check out these additional links for further inspiration:
The Promotion is open to United States residents and is subject to the terms and conditions contained in the “Official Rules” located within the Assets tab of this Project. The Official Rules supersede and replace the “Official Rules” found on the Tongal website.
The goal of this Project is to produce a unique five to nine-minute Short within the universe of the original 1979 Alien film. The contents of your story and Pitch is up to you, but must adhere to the following criteria.
Your STORY must:
Your PITCH must not:
Even though your Pitch must not use characters from the Alien films, your Pitch may reference these characters in dialogue (e.g., “Ash wouldn’t have done that…”).
Your PITCH AND FINAL VIDEO must be wholly original.
While you are strongly encouraged to invent your own original Alien story, 20th Century Fox has also provided a list of story starters to get those creative juices flowing.
Example Alien Story Starters
This Project will begin with a Pitch Qualification Phase. 18 filmmakers will be selected by Tongal as the Pitch Qualification Phase winners and will enter into the Pitch Phase. From this pool, 6 filmmakers will then be chosen as Pitch Phase winners.
If your Pitch is selected to enter the Pre-Production Phase, you will be responsible for delivering the following:
This Project will have six winning filmmakers, and consists of the following five Phases: a Pitch Qualification Phase, Pitch Phase, Pre-Production Phase, Production Phase and Post-Production Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as Official Rules (found in the Assets Tab of the Project).
Attention Filmmakers: This Project will include a Pitch Qualification Phase which gives you the opportunity to submit a 500 character or less synopsis of your creative approach, confirm your availability for production, and provide samples of your previous work.
Eighteen Pitch Qualification Phase winners will be selected by Tongal to move forward into the Pitch Phase and awarded $2,000 each to complete a Visual Treatment (see template here), Pitch Video, and Scripts to further develop their Pitch.
At the end of the Pitch Phase, six (6) Pitch Phase winners will be selected from the group of Pitch Qualification Phase winners. Please note that Pitch Qualification Phase winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production. If you have any questions about Pitch Qualification, please post to our Forum or reach out to us at info@tongal.com.
PHASE 1: PITCH QUALIFICATION
For the Pitch Qualification Phase, you will need to write a synopsis of your narrative concepts and technical approach for your Short and confirm your availability for production. You will also need to submit the following items.
From the participants submitting Pitches in the Pitch Qualification Phase, 18 filmmakers will be selected by Tongal as the Pitch Qualification Phase winners based on the requirements set forth in this Brief as well as following judging criteria that will be weighted in the following manner:
20th Century Fox will not receive any Pitch Qualification Phase materials created by those contestants that are not selected by Tongal as the Pitch Qualification Phase winners. 20th Century Fox will only receive materials created by Pitch Qualification Phase winners after these winners enter into the creative services agreement with Tongal.
PHASE 2: PITCH
If you are selected by Tongal as one of the eighteen (18) Pitch Qualification Phase winners, you will be required to enter into a separate creative services agreement with Tongal pursuant to which, among other things, you will receive $2,000 to create a full blown Pitch. You will then submit your Pitch consisting of the following items in order to convince 20th Century Fox why you should be selected to execute your Short.
20th Century Fox and Tongal will select six of the participants from the Pitch Phase to advance to the Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production Phases based on the requirements set forth in this Brief as well as following judging criteria:
The six most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit, will receive $30,000 to use to create their Shorts. Please note the payment of the Pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by 20th Century Fox. Please further note that 20th Century Fox reserves the right to select more than six Pitches to advance to the next phases to create a Short.
Additionally, upon submitting the Short that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing 20th Century Fox notes, providing the Winners Forms and any other necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by 20th Century Fox, each Pitch Phase winner will receive a final payment of $5,000. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. Unless otherwise approved in advance in writing by 20th Century Fox, all Pitches will remain private until after the Project is complete and the six winners are announced.
PHASE 3: PRE-PRODUCTION
The six (6) Pitch Phase winners will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). During this phase, the Pitch Phase winners will need to receive the following approvals from 20th Century Fox:
No filmmakers may begin shooting their short video until all approvals are completed and the Production Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your short video during the Pre-Production Phase before you have received final approval, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense) or be disqualified.
PHASE 4: PRODUCTION
Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, the Pitch Phase winners will ultimately be required to deliver the following:
--Video Phase Payout: Upon submitting a Short that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing 20th Century Fox notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by 20th Century Fox, the Pitch Phase winners will receive a final payment of $5,000.
--Music: Tongal has partnered with two premiere music providers for this Project: Jingle Punks and Epidemic Sound, either of which can be used to source music for your short 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 more customized music solution for their short videos are invited to connect with our partner Score A Score. Email a brief description of your short video (timing, creative, budget, etc.), along with any specific music direction and/or references to your creative team at music@scoreascore.com and include “Tongal Project - Your Name” in the subject line. Their creative team will quickly be in touch to discuss the simple process and options with you. All music licenses must permit any and all uses and be in writing, irrevocable, perpetual, fully paid-up, royalty-free and worldwide. Please note that you will be responsible for the fees associated with using Score A Score.
If you are selected as a Pitch Phase winner and choose to use custom/original music in your Short, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form found in the Winners Forms within the Assets tab of the Project. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must secure the license for all forms of media in perpetuity and throughout the universe at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your Winners Forms and any other necessary release forms.
PHASE 5: POST-PRODUCTION
Once the Production Phase has closed, the winning filmmakers will enter the Post-Production Phase. During this Phase, among other things, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their short video according to 20th Century Fox’s feedback. Additionally, you must also provide all Project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, animation, or uncompressed codec. You also are required to provide all raw footage on a hard drive. You will be responsible for the costs associated with the hard drive (if necessary) and shipping. For file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production please click here.
1. The short video MUST not exceed 10 minutes 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 20th Century Fox.
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 a full written worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, fully paid-up, royalty-free 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 AND FOX. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT AND LEGAL ACTION TAKEN AGAINST YOU.
5. Submissions cannot contain any offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Tongal and 20th Century Fox.
6. Submissions must not portray 20th Century Fox, the Alien franchise or any persons or entities involved with the Alien Franchise in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with 20th Century Fox.
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 20th Century Fox determine the final rank order.
8. The project is open to US residents ONLY. All Shorts must be in the English language.
9. Limit five submissions per member, per phase.
10. You must be at least 18 years or older to enter.
11. 20th Century Fox reserves the right to repost the contest.
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 short video based on her/his prior work and experience as a filmmaker. Furthermore, judging will also be informed by the following:
13. 20th Century Fox will be entitled to revise the finished short 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 Tongal W-9 and Winner Affidavit, Pitch Phase winners MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning short video, 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.
15. The following capitalized terms are used in this Brief and have the following meanings: “Brief” means this Project brief; “Short” means an original five to nine-minute short video; “Pitch” means any pitch to be submitted by filmmakers to Tongal and/or Fox pursuant to this Brief; “Project” means this 40th Anniversary Shorts Project as administered by Tongal and sponsored by Fox; and “Winners Forms” means those forms to be completed by Pitch Phase winners as provided in conjunction with this Project which are located within the Assets tab of this Project and which replace the “Winners Forms” found on the Tongal website.
16. See the Official Rules for additional contest information, terms and conditions. To the extent that there is any conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Brief and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of this Brief shall prevail.