Calling all Asian American and Pacific Islander animators! SYFY's looking to produce a series of short vignettes that celebrate and amplify AAPI voices, stories, influences, and experiences in genre. 

SYFY is the Alpha and the Omega of genre. They've got everything from cyberpunk sci-fi to futuristic fantasy and the boldest, bloodiest horror films you've ever seen. Superheroes, cyborgs, monsters, mashups, crossovers, comics - whoever you are, whatever genre you dig, SYFY's got you. Every month, SYFY partners with different genre fans who work as artists, animators, designers, and directors, and gives them an opportunity to express their own love of genre in different ways, with an artistic and incredibly cool TV spot.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and for this project SYFY wants to spotlight Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) animators who can produce a short video vignette that tells a story the celebrates and amplifies the AAPI experience in genre content, or that pays homage to its powerful influence on pop culture and genre content. Think about the classic visuals and scenes, the stylistic and storytelling archetypes, or the great characters and relationships, or what went into making them happen and how great AAPI creators brought their visions to life. 

Connect Asian and American and Pacific Islanders to genres like sci-fi, superheroes, fantasy, and horror, and give that story your own unique spin. Create something that really feels like a reflection of who you are, and what you want to see. All great genre stories are rooted in something about our humanity and who we are, so this ins't just about making the protagonist of your video of Asian or Pacific Islander descent (although you certainly can do that!). What is unique about the AAPI experience or its influence on genre content? If your story is more personal, think about using classic genre tropes and character types as a way to illustrate it - SYFY is open to any animated creative direction. 

For your pitch, we'd recommend you show off your past work, and then submit several different narrative ideas for your video. If you're greenlit by SYFY, we'll work with you to develop ONE of your ideas during the pre-production process. SYFY's open to ideas that use voiceover, narration, or visual text to help to tell your story, but we aren't looking for live-action executions. As a reminder, all work MUST be original, and should NOT include or reference existing IP or characters.

SYFY is open to greenlighting up to 6 pitches total, so if you know someone that you think would be perfect for this, use the 'Invite A Friend' section on our referrals page, and generate a referral code. If your referral creates a new Tongal account using your unique code, when they receive their first Tongal greenlight, you'll automatically receive $100. This referral fee is valid for any project - even if they don't get this one. Check it out.

DELIVERABLES:

• One :15, :20, or :30 video (16x9, 1x1)
• Your video should be 16x9, but the action should be framed so it can be cropped for 1x1. If you prefer not to have your video cropped, you may deliver a second version designed for 1x1.

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets tab.

EXPOSURE: Videos will air on SYFY and also be posted on SYFY.com, as well on SYFY’s digital and social platforms.

TARGET AUDIENCE: Adult fans of genre content.

TONE: 

• Celebratory, nostalgic, magical, reverent, mysterious - really, any tone can work!
• SYFY wants to amplify storytellers of Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage, with a uniquely genre spin, and while there's a wide range of topics you can choose to explore in that theme, the overall tone of the video should be respectful and thought-provoking.  

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• This is NOT a SYFY logo video. If you're familiar with this initiative, you know that we typically ask to integrate the SYFY logo in some way, but that's NOT the case this time around, so don't worry about it.
• This project is specifically geared for Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, animators, designers, editors, and filmmakers. They'll check out 2D animation, stop-motion animation, claymation, creative motion graphics, mixed media, etc. 3D animation is acceptable, but NOT live action, and we understand that hyperrealistic VFX work is difficult given the timeline and budget, so you must show that you can execute within these parameters. If it helps to tell the story, you can add voiceover, narration, or visual text to your video as well.
• The final 3 seconds of your video should resolve on a simple, uncluttered frame (with minimal motion) because SYFY needs room to incorporate additional center-frame graphics that will be added after you deliver. That means the "narrative" of your video should resolve at the end of the :12, :17, or :27 mark, and the final seconds should be a cleaner frame that's related to your video, but not necessarily a part of the narrative. 
• All work MUST be original and should NOT include or reference existing IP or characters. Any persons, places or things rendered should be of the artist’s own creation and should not be referential of any existing properties.
• "Genre" refers to science fiction, fantasy, superheroes, comic books, and horror, but it can be anything that falls under those categories, including something that combines more than one. Think about sub-genres too - science-fiction and horror include a ton of different styles and variations - and how genres have evolved over time and in different mediums.
• AVOID graphically violent or sexual  images, or overtly political subject matter.

Recent Relevant Examples:

• Space Laboratory - A Women's History Month video, following this project's same format, with space at the end for SYFY graphics.
• Boob Armor - Another Women's History Month video, following the same format.
• Heads Inside Heads - A Black History Month video, also following this format.

As this initiative typically asks for the inclusion of a SYFY logo, all of our examples below are logo videos, but your video should NOT include a SYFY logo. With that in mind, notice how many of these videos create a fun way to set up and subvert audience expectations with their stories. 

• Roller Derby or Bust - a high-energy video that upends audience expectations about who a "typical" zombie hunter is 
• Vote Foot - a simple story with a good twist and a surprise ending with a message
• Make Your Mark - an overview story that immerses genre characters in the message
• Homage to B-Movies - a cool tribute to the retro sci-fi subgenre
• Post-Apocalyptic Workshop - a subversive little horror twist on familiar imagery
• Mystery Meat - a complete vignette that quickly takes an unexpected turn
• Monsters Fall in Love - a stylish vignette in an abstracted setting with a great twist

In order to be considered for this project you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or fewer synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video - and remember, you can propose a few different approaches too, so we're not expecting much detail here.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed narrative description of the different approaches you might take in the video. Please submit more than one so we've got a lot to work with you on. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them 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, animatic, etc. are welcome.

The 4 most compelling pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive payments to help create the Videos. Please note the payment of the pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Please see the full payment schedule in the Assets tab.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to shooting filmmakers must receive the below Approvals from the sponsor.

• TREATMENT – This project requires treatment approval before filmmakers can move onto the Video Phase. The treatment should describe your video in detail, and how you plan to bring the storytelling to life visually. You should include graphic and tonal references when possible. The sponsor may provide feedback on your treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a treatment is approved by the Sponsor.

No filmmakers may begin shooting their Video until all approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your 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).

For your convenience, we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a treatment, production budget, storyboards, shot list, call sheet, and a music cue sheet. Additionally, there are templates that will help you clearly present the Sponsor cast, location, and wardrobe options. They can all be accessed here.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the Video Phase has closed, the filmmakers enter the Revisions Phase. During this phase, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback.

MUSIC: You will be required to use the SYFY-approved music provider Frequency to source music for your Video submission to this Project. Music from this provider is available only to the filmmakers that SYFY selects at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate music release form. Filmmakers will be provided with a log-in and access by a Tongal producer once they are selected. 

If you are selected as a filmmaker and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our music release form. 

FONTS: If you use any actual fonts (as opposed to drawing your own letters) you will be required to use the SYFY-approved font service Monotype to source fonts for your Video submissions to this project. Fonts from this provider are available only to the Pitch Winners at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Release. Pitch Winners will be provided with a log-in and access by a Tongal producer once they are selected.

CREW: Tongal supports inclusivity in all of our productions and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your production and post-production departments. To find crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment. You will be responsible for the costs associated the hard drive (if necessary) and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production please click here.

1. 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 your submission be greenlit, 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 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. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor’s organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. 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 the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
    
    
15. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, 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 to claim your earnings.
    
    
16. 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.