Apply to receive a production stipend and create your own 60-minute audio documentary as a mentee in Tongal’s Content Mentorship Program with Seth Marques - a sound designer, composer, and music artist whose work includes campaigns for Hoka and LEGO and music featured on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Pop. Learn the ins and outs of audio storytelling alongside Seth’s real-world experience across narrative and commercial sound. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring your story to life with guidance from an industry pro.

Audio storytelling, whether were talking about full podcasts or individual radio segments, are one of the most powerful tools we have to preserve stories, inspire change, and amplify unheard voices; and this mentorship is your chance to learn how to do it well. Tongal is excited to launch our Audio Documentary Workshop, led by independent audio producer, designer, musician - and Tongaler - Seth Marques. Seth has built an audience through thoughtful, honest audio content, and knows how to craft sound and stories that sticks with people. This workshop will break down how to plan, shape, and produce an audio-first story with the emotional depth and polish of an NPR-style documentary, using real-world skills that can help any emerging audio creator stand out.

This mentorship is part of Tongal’s Branded Content Mentorship Program, an ongoing initiative designed to give creators the skills, practice, and portfolio pieces they need to grow as professionals, with real support from experienced mentors. In this round, two mentees will be selected to receive a $750 production stipend each. Together with Seth, they’ll plan, record, edit, and mix a 60-minute audio documentary about a nonprofit that means something to them, their community, or the arts at large. The final project will combine clear storytelling, rich sound design, and a simple visual slideshow to bring the story to life for listeners. Your chosen non-profit will be able to utilize the final project to tell their story and raise awareness of their efforts. Tongal will also promote the final project and non-profit on it's YouTube and Social Channels.

TO APPLY: Tell us who you are, what nonprofit you’d like to spotlight, and why you want to level up your audio production skills. Show us what you’ve done so far, and share why this matters to you. And then...

CREATE YOUR AUDIO DOCUMENTARY: Two selected mentees will work directly with Seth to plan, record, edit, and complete a 60-minute audio piece. You’ll learn how to shape an interview, craft narrative arcs, handle sound design, and polish the final product. Your finished doc can live in your portfolio as a real sample of your storytelling ability.

PROJECT TIMELINE: Here

HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION/TONE:

• This American Life: Museum of Now
• Proof: What Does Space Taste Like?
• Throughline: James Baldwin's Fire
• When The Beasts Come Marching In

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period, but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors. 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters to tell us about the non-profit you wish to profile, and synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): Tell us about yourself, the non-profit you wish to profile, and what you hope to gain from this workshop. Please tell us what audio software you have access to. Not having access will not disqualify you, we will provide you access to a program while you're participating in the mentorship program.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit by the Sponsor, and the responsible creator will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. Payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal, typically included with the project timeline.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor on the elements below. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until an element is approved.

For convenience, we've provided some helpful templates that you can consider using for pre-production materials, and they can all be accessed here.

MUSIC: If you use music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's music providers: Slipstream Music, Universal Production Music, and PrimalHouse Music. 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 Music Release Form. To learn more, click on any of the providers' names above.

If you choose to use original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. Please ensure your composer reviews and signs this form BEFORE beginning their work.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a master file in order to submit final payment. You are responsible for any costs associated with the hard drive and shipping. 

To ensure a smoother delivery, please review the Export Presets, Specifications, and Project File Organization Tutorial in our Filmmaker Resource Portal.

1. 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. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 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.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. 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 creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.