Pitch us your plan to create a suite of broadcast & digital content celebrating the joy of being a fan at the start of the new football season, and looking forward to better days ahead.

Football season is bound to be a bit different this year - rather than attending large tailgate parties, or celebrating post-game wins in the stands, most of us will be cheering on our favorite teams from home. On Location Experiences (or OLE), the official hospitality partner of the NFL, is an expert in all things sports & entertainment. In an ordinary year, they'd be organizing one-of-a-kind events & upscale experiences for fans, such as meet & greets with NFL players, pregame parties, and post-game victory celebrations with exclusive on-field access. But this year, they are looking to create a suite of broadcast & digital content that'll celebrate the joys of being a football fan in our current reality, while also looking forward to better days ahead, and encourage fans to learn more about future event offerings from OLE. Even though this season may look a little different, OLE wants fans to know that they will still be there to host events & VIP experiences for fans when we can celebrate football together again. 

This is a fast moving timeline, so we're open to different executions here, and you will be provided with some video assets with which to showcase past OLE fan events. You can find those in the this Assets folder. Creative approaches can include live action footage shot specifically for this project - which might allow you to better tailor your narrative - or they can use existing stock footage along with OLE's assets, or some combination the three. Above all, we are looking for creative ways to celebrate the small joys of being a football fan in our current reality, while inspiring people to looking forward to a future reality where fans can celebrate their teams & attend OLE events again.

Videos should highlight fans enjoying football in a pre, during, and post-game capacity - but how you choose to feature those activities is up to you. Also, while OLE assets may include some approved NFL team logos, jerseys, and branding, you will not be able to showcase any NFL team branding or NFL player jerseys otherwise, so you'll have to cleverly avoid that.

DELIVERABLES:

• One :30-:60 Hero Video (16x9)
• One :30 Cutdown (1x1)
• One :15 Cutdown (1x1, 16x9)
• Three :06 Cutdowns (16x9)

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

EXPOSURE:

• Broadcast TV & the NFL Network
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Please click here to access the platform best practices page.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Adult fans (age 35+/upper income) of college & professional football
• College Alumni (age 35+/upper income)

TONE: Empathetic, hopeful, optimistic, exciting, maybe a little dramatic, even anthemic. 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Videos must feature fans engaging in pre, during, and post-game activities 
• For ease of casting, videos can focus on members of a single fan household or family (though this is not required)
• Any footage captured or stock footage sourced CANNOT show fans in any particular team jerseys, or feature any NFL or college football team logos. All apparel, decor, etc. must be generic & non-branded
• Any footage captured or stock footage sourced CANNOT show individual NFL or college football players; any shots of players must include at least 7 or more players
• Videos can leverage VO or on-screen text; please note that if you do propose VO, your VO artist will be subject to casting approvals in the pre-production stage
• Videos will need to feature light motion graphics for logos & on-screen text
• Should you use any stock footage, it MUST be sourced from a legitimate stock footage library (such as Shutterstock, Pond 5, etc.) Licenses of any stock footage must cover broadcast usage. Costs for licensing any stock footage must be included in your budget proposal
• Videos will need to feature a CTA & endcard driving people to the OLE website

OPEN BID: 

• This is an open bid project, so you will get to set your own budget proposal within the $15,000-$25,000 range. The Sponsor is particularly interested in seeing tiered pricing options for this project, so please feel free to submit various versions of your pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range. Please note that if you are putting together tiered options, you only need to submit ONE pitch, and should distinguish between your tiered versions in your treatment & budget proposal.
• By participating in this open bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a bid. Though most open bid projects on our platform do move forward with a greenlit bid, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any bids via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all open bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We’re working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and our advice here is to make sure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

On Location Experiences, the official hospitality partner of the NFL, is a leader in premium experiential hospitality business, establishing a new industry standard to serve iconic rights holders with extensive experience in ticketing, curated hospitality, live event production and travel management in the worlds of sports and entertainment. 

On Location is a partner to over 150 rights holders including the NFL, NCAA, the PGA of America and the United States Tennis Association, and provides unrivaled official access for both corporate clients and fans looking for immersive experiences at marquee events including the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, NFL Draft, NCAA Final Four, PGA of America events, numerous College Football Bowl Games including the Rose Bowl Game and the Tennis Majors.  

REFERENCE VIDEO: 

• Check out this video for inspiration on the realistic, but hopeful & optimistic tone we'll be aiming for with this content.

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 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): 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 would like each producer to create all assets with a cost range of $15,000-$25,000 total.  The Sponsor is particularly interested in seeing tiered pricing options for this project, so please feel free to submit various versions of your pitch at budget, target, and reach price points within that price range. Please note that if you are putting together tiered options, you only need to submit ONE pitch, and should distinguish between your tiered versions in your treatment & budget proposal.
  
  
• SCRIPT (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create.
  
  
• HEADSHOTS/CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Casting notes or concepts, headshots of actors, VO artists, etc.
  
  
• 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, animatics, etc. are welcome. For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit, and upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment, the responsible creator will receive funding. Please note: the payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Please see the full payment schedule in the Assets section.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to shooting, filmmakers must receive the below approvals from the Sponsor.

• SCRIPT: This project requires script approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The Sponsor 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 Sponsor.
• STORYBOARD: This project requires storyboard approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your storyboard and ask you to submit a new version.
• HEADSHOT/VO SAMPLES (if applicable): This project requires headshot or VO artist approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If the Sponsor does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor/VO artist options.
• LOCATION (if applicable): 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 location. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your location and ask you to submit additional photos or to find a new location and submit images for that.
• STOCK FOOTAGE CLIPS (if applicable): This project requires stock footage approval before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. This means you will need to submit the proposed stock footage clips you are planning to use. The Sponsor may provide feedback on your stock footage options and ask you to submit additional options..

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 cast, location, and wardrobe options to the Sponsor. They can all be accessed here.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the Video Phase has closed, the greenlit submitters will enter the Revisions Phase. Filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback.

MUSIC: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music 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 providers’ names above. 

If you 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.

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 are 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. 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. 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 Videos 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, 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.
    
    
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.