MTV is looking for fun and attention-getting videos that celebrate the pop culture around the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the VMAs for their Facebook pages.

We all love watching awards shows. There’s intrigue, drama, humor, the chance to see something crazy happen on live TV, and celebs in outfits both gorgeous and cringe-worthy.

One thing MTV has always done well is drum up excitement in the months leading up to their awards shows. And we want the Tongal community to build on that and blow it out of the park with an engaging and shareable video that celebrates what makes the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the VMAs fan favorites, year after year. 

In a previous project we sourced 5 incredible ideas that we’d like to see brought to life, either as standalone videos or as miniseries, to support and promote the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the VMAs. 

Your Pitch should walk MTV through how you’d approach your chosen idea as both a standalone video, and as a broader series of 4 videos. Your bid and budget should outline the cost of a standalone video, but please include the cost for a 4-episode series in your Pitch as well. 

While we encourage you to Pitch against multiple ideas, you will need to upload separate Pitches for each idea you are interested in bringing to life.

LIVE ACTION IDEAS: :90 SECONDS – 3 MINUTES 

For the following four ideas, your Pitches should explain how you’d bring one to life as a :90 second – 3 minute video or series of 4 :90 second – 3 minute videos:

• PUPPY RE-ENACTMENTS – Puppies re-enact classic moments from the VMAs and/or MTV Movie & TV Awards.
  
  
• CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT – MTV’s award shows are known, in part, for their off-the-wall categories (Best Kiss, anyone?). Let’s explore the absurd, made-up categories that didn’t make it.
  
  
• MTV MOCKUMENTARY: THE MOON PERSON – An MTV fan sets out to prove the existence of the MTV Moon Person by exploring witness accounts/videos and an alleged cover-up.
  
  
• THE TOUGH LIFE OF A BLEEPER – BTS mockumentary about the person in charge of bleeping all the curse words during the live broadcasts of the awards shows.  

ANIMATION IDEA: :15–:60 SECONDS

While the live-action videos should be longer, for this animated approach your Pitch should be against creating one to four :15–:60 second videos. 

• ANIMATED MOMENTS: Cool animations around iconic moments, awards trophies, or outfits from the VMAs and/or MTV Movie Awards and/or MTV through the years.
  
  

Your Pitch should walk MTV through how your video would work as a standalone or as the foundation for a 4-video series that is thumb-stopping and shareable and gets audiences hyped for the 2019 MTV Movie Awards and the VMAs and beyond.

Before you jump in, here are some critical things to keep in mind: 

• This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. You can download the Budget template here. 
• Live-action videos: The Sponsor would like the Pitch winner to create one :90 second – 3 minute video (with the potential to produce more down the road) with a cost range of $3,000–$4,500 per video. Refer to the Details section for more information.
• Animated videos: The Sponsor would like the Pitch winner to create one :15–:60 video (with the potential to produce more down the road) with a cost range of $2,500–3.500 per video. 
• In this project, the sponsor will determine how many submissions it will select, if any.
• The goal of this project is to create a standalone video around one of the above-mentioned ideas to get audiences excited about the upcoming MTV Movie Awards and VMAs. 
• Each live-action video should be between :90 seconds – 3 minutes. Each animated video should be between :15–:60 seconds.
• This is a new initiative for MTV’s Facebook Watch channels, which means you have an opportunity to create a template for future content.
• We’re looking for you to pitch a creative approach that is, above all, thumb-stopping and shareable and that appeals to audiences who love pop culture, music, movies/tv, celebrity culture, memes, and MTV in general.
• Since these are for Facebook, most viewers will watch with audio off – so think about how your videos will work from a purely visual standpoint.  Please see the Assets tab for Facebook best practices to help guide you.

Read on to the Objectives section for more about this fun project.

The goal of this project is to create either a :90 second – 3 minute live action video or a :15–:60 second animated video to drum up excitement for the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the VMAs and that can be expanded to a 4-video series. Your video should be built around one of the below ideas. You can select which idea your Pitch is built off of from a drop-down on the submission page.

We encourage you to Pitch against multiple ideas by uploading submissions as separate Pitches.

LIVE ACTION IDEAS: :90 SECONDS – 3 MINUTES 

• PUPPY RE-ENACTMENTS – Puppies re-enact classic moments from the VMAs and/or MTV Movie & TV Awards and/or MTV through the years – to be interpreted broadly.
  
  
• CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT – MTV’s award shows are known, in part, for their off-the-wall categories (Best Kiss, anyone?). Let’s explore the absurd, made-up categories that didn’t make it.
  
  
• MTV MOCKUMENTARY: THE MOON PERSON – An MTV fan sets out to prove the existence of the MTV Moon Person by exploring witness accounts/videos and an alleged cover-up.
  
  
• THE TOUGH LIFE OF A BLEEPER – BTS mockumentary about the person in charge of bleeping all the curse words during the live broadcasts of the awards shows.  

ANIMATION IDEA: :15–:60 SECONDS

• ANIMATED MOMENTS: Cool animations around iconic moments, awards trophies, or outfits from the VMAs and/or MTV Movie Awards and/or MTV through the years – to be interpreted broadly.

We ask that you stay away from: 

• Previous awards clips – we’re not looking for ideas for clip shows or supercuts 
• Reactions to other awards shows – let’s keep this to MTV territory
• Actual celebrity appearances (physical or voice)
• Clips from movies, music, or TV
• Re-enactments of specific, overplayed moments. Focus more on creative interpretations of each idea and how it can tie back to MTV broadly.

--Who’s Watching: Predominantly female, 18–34

-- What Are They Watching:  Reality TV, Comedy, Music, News, Fashion, Food

• Reality TV – as a keyword, brings 3^rd highest amount of traffic to MTV’s Facebook pages
• Viral videos shared a la Ridiculousness
• BTS and supplemental/supportive content (MTV Cribs, VMA red carpets)
• Throwback content and nostalgia (“I Want My MTV!”)
• Recipes and eating challenges

--How Are They Watching: 

• Early: 65% of unique views come in the first month after a video is released. 
• Roughly 1/5 to 1/4 of MTV’s followers watch a video on Facebook

This Project will consist of 5 Phases: a Pitch Phase, a Pre-Production Phase, a Video Phase, a Revisions Phase and an Asset Delivery Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. You can download the Budget template here.  

The Sponsor will determine whether it will select a winning submission. 

PHASE 1: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?)  convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Video based on one of the winning Ideas from the previous Phase using:

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this Video.

• 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.

• Treatment (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.

• Budget (REQUIRED):
  • Feel free to download and use the Tongal budget template here.
  • Please remember to account for the full list of deliverables and ensure that you are able to meet all of the camera requirements and broadcast technical specifications presented in the details above when drafting your budget. 
  • If any travel is required for your segment, you will be responsible for travel arrangements, and should include the costs of travel in your Budget.

• Script (Optional): This should include key talking points from the videos you intend to create. 

• 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 most compelling Pitch will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive a portion of their budget to help create the Video.  Please note the payment of the Pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor the Pitch winner will receive the remainder of their budget. For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete. 

PHASE 2: PRE-PRODUCTION – The Filmmaker selected in the Pitch Phase will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will need to receive the following Approvals from the brand: 

• SCRIPT – This project requires Script Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The brand may provide feedback on your Script and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a Script is approved by the brand. 
• HEADSHOT – This project requires Headshot Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If the brand does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options.
• LOCATION - This project requires Location Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. This means you will need to submit multiple images of your primary filming. The brand may provide feedback on your location and ask you to submit additional photos or to find a new location and submit images for that. 
• WARDROBE - This project requires Wardrobe Approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You will need to submit descriptions and/or pictures of your cast’s wardrobe. You must submit at least two wardrobe options per role. If the brand does 

No filmmakers may begin shooting their Videos 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.

PHASE 3: VIDEO – Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, the Pitch Winner will create a suite of 6-8 videos, each up to :60 seconds, on important midterm election topics and candidates, based upon their winning Pitch. 

--Video Phase Payout:  Upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor the Pitch winner will receive the final portion of their approved budget.

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your 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 your project are invited to connect with our partner Score A Score. Email a brief description of your project (timing, creative, budget, etc.), along with any specific music direction and/or references to their creative team at music@scoreascore.com and include “Tongal Project - Your Name” in the subject line.  Their creative team will be in touch within a few minutes to discuss the simple process and options with you. Please note that you will be responsible for the fees associated with using Score A Score. 

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your Video paperwork.

PHASE 4: REVISIONS – Once the Video Phase has closed, you will enter the Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?). During this phase, you will perform reasonable edits on your Videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback. 

PHASE 5: ASSETS DELIVERY -  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. In addition, to the project files you are also required to provide all raw footage on a hard drive.  You will be responsible for the costs associated the hard drive and shipping.

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

1. The Videos MUST not exceed 3 minutes in length. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 1x1 square format. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should you be selected as winner, 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. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.

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 the project sponsor determine the final rank order.

8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

11. The Sponsor 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 Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.

13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished 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 standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning 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 award.

15. 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.