Produce a suite of immersive branded lifestyle still photos and social videos that document the "stay" at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 San Francisco.

Every Hilton property and stay has its own unique style; where you choose to stay, and what that stay entails, is a crucial factor for travelers. This is especially true for the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the Parc 55 San Francisco, set across the street from each other in the bustling, competitive heart of Union Square in San Francisco. 

Both properties are currently lacking in stills and video that demonstrate all they have to offer. With a major renovation for both properties planned for early 2027, Hilton is turning to the Tongal community to help fix that content gap and increase traveler business ahead of the renovations. 

To do this, you'll create a suite of content consisting of up to 25 still photos (12 per property) and two up-to :60 social videos (with cutdowns and sidecar montages) that capture each property's unique style, amenities, and key lifestyle cues for specific traveler audiences. Each property has its own stay POV, which must drive and differentiate your production, ultimately leading to two intentionally distinct suites of stills and video. Reference photos and videos and more specifics about each property's key amenities, target traveler demographics, and top hotel amenities to consider in your treatment can be found in the Background.

You will need to conduct a two-day MOS social video and photography shoot at both properties, sometime between June 6-17, 2026. We anticipate you'll be able to shoot through one property per day, but you should expect to capture stills and video across up to three amenities (e.g. guest room, lobby, restaurant, gym, pool, etc.) at each property, with the schedule covering both daytime and nighttime shots. In addition to the two-day shoot, you will need to conduct a one-day tech scout at both properties, ideally within 48 hours of the confirmed shoot dates. 

You will need to shoot professional photography, with up to three rounds of light retouching. Photography should focus on showing each space or amenity as the 'main character' of the shot, with talent creating a lifestyle narrative within the frame; see examples in Background. Your social video should be shot for both 16x9 and 9x16 delivery, using a current-model iPhone, Ronin 4D, Sony FX3 or similar, on a gimbal. Across your stills and social video, you should expect to cast up to six on-screen talent (up to four principals and two extras). Your talent will represent different traveler types, and casting may include the need for a child (e.g. solo business traveler, couple, family). You can expect to have personnel from both Tongal and Hilton on set, along with a representative from the hotels. 

Please note that these hotels will be fully operational during production, and our top priority will be to ensure that production is not interfering with the guest experience. If it means changing a shot so that we do not disturb guests, that's okay. The guest experience is paramount to the production for Hilton, so keeping a high sense of courtesy and flexibility will be extremely important. We will also need to be mindful of avoiding any framing that would draw attention to areas that will be the key focus of the upcoming renovations; Hilton will provide more detail on this in pre-production, and specific shots and angles will be approved in advance of production during the tech scout. 

Finally, please note you do NOT need to be based in San Francisco to pitch on this project, but there is no additional travel budget available, and any crew travel or lodging should be covered under your production budget. That said, the properties may be able to provide a small number of guest rooms for any crew or talent that need to stay on site, as well as a crew/gear holding room and a wardrobe/HMU room. We're breaking down more details about the process, as well as some budgeting assumptions, below. For any other questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

FOR YOUR PITCH: Your pitch should primarily highlight:

• Past work that shows your ability to shoot hotel content, social-first content, and/or elevated lifestyle content.
• Past work that shows your ability to direct talent, especially without dialogue.
• From your photographer, past work that shows an ability to capture lifestyle, interiors, food and dining, and staged talent.
• A breakdown of the key members of your team, including your director (motion), director of photography, still photographer, wardrobe stylist, hair/makeup artist, and production designer. If helpful, you may use our production team member template for this breakdown.
• Details about how you'll approach your production to ensure stills and video capture are equally optimized across both properties/days.

You should also consider the following BUDGETING ASSUMPTIONS:

• Video Content Can be Shot MOS - no dialogue or audio is needed.
• One tech scout day – One to two days before the shoot. Expect to have your key department heads attend this to finalize the shotlist and schedule.
• One shoot day per property – Bear in mind that shooting may require irregular hours, including overnight production, to ensure access to spaces and amenities when guests are not present. Plan for 8-12 hour long shoots per property.
• Production Will Only Take Place on Hilton Property - so licensing and permits will not be required. You may, however, be asked to provide Certificates of Insurance (COIs) for your production, depending on the property. 
• Minimal Lighting – Because you'll be filming in active hotel spaces, your lighting setup should be minimal (e.g. photo strobe, fill light, reflectors, etc.) with a small footprint and be easily transportable from space to space.
• Wardrobe, Hair & Makeup – While you will need to have a stylist on set for final looks, we strongly recommend having talent provide their own wardrobe, based on moodboards and branding guides shared by Hilton in pre-production. Hilton will need to approve all wardrobe. In addition to an on-set stylist, you will also need to have HMU on set for final looks.
• Video Village – Expect to have a moveable village setup for the Tongal and Hilton brand teams (likely 2-5 people). Do not assume client monitor will be able to connect wirelessly to your camera feed at distance; village may need to move with production.
• Limited Crew - the hotel properties will be open and operational during production, so you will need to work with a smaller but efficient footprint to avoid disrupting guests who are staying at the hotel at the time of production. We anticipate this crew will include the following, though this is merely a suggested structure: 
  • Producer
  • Director
  • Social DP
  • Photographer
  • Photographer Assistant
  • Wardrobe Stylist
  • Makeup Stylist
  • Hair Stylist
  • 1-2x Production Assistants

DELIVERABLES: There are 6-8 total edited video assets and 12 still assets PER PROPERTY (12-16 edited video assets and up to 25 stills total across both properties):

• 1x :60 social hero video (16x9, 9x16)
• 2-3x :15-:30 cutdowns (one per traveler demographic) (16x9, 9x16)
• B-roll stringouts of individual amenities (e.g. Guest Room stringout, Lobby stringout, etc.) with a LUT (16x9)
• 12x still photos per property (16x9 or 9x16)

EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE.

• Please note that delivery has been split into two batches, and that the post timeline may shift up depending on the actual shoot dates.

EXPOSURE & RIGHTS: We expect content will be used on the platforms below, but if casting talent, be sure they review our required Talent Release before they're cast, as we CANNOT guarantee that usage is limited to these platforms.  This project requires a full rights buyout for all talent and for all content that you deliver, including photography. That means all rights, globally, in perpetuity, and in all media. Please ensure that your photographers are aware and have agreed to this before presenting options to Hilton, and that Talent is made aware of our talent release during the casting process. This is not negotiable. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Hilton property websites
• In-Room at Hilton properties
• Hilton brand emails

TARGET AUDIENCE: Gen X and Millennials; a new generation of smart business and leisure travelers, for whom life, business, and pleasure seamlessly intersect. Should you receive a greenlight, additional information about the specific brand and audience you will be shooting for will be provided to you ahead of launching any casting notices. 

TONE/FEEL: Elevated, energized, empowered; taken care of and enmeshed in the bustle of San Francisco.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Stills and videos must feel unique to each property and its messaging goals and traveler personas.
• All content must reflect and adhere to Hilton's Cinematic Reality principles; these will be shared with the greenlit filmmaker. Reference photos and videos can be found here.
• This project requires a full rights buyout for all talent and content, including photography. 
• The shoot must produce two distinct bodies of work that feel intentionally different in energy, casting, and framing for each property.
• Diversity casting must reflect an international guest mix - particularly Asian market travelers - plus LGBTQ+ couples and solo business travelers. You can repeat talent across the two properties, so long as the talent is diverse and represents the properties' DNA. 
• Talent must NOT be directed to gawp at details or give a "Wow!" reaction. The quality service, amenities, and design elements of Hilton properties are what travelers expect to experience.
• Greenlit filmmakers will be provided with brand Do's and Don'ts that will need to be followed during pre-production and production.
• Do not show drinking of alcoholic beverages on camera. 

AI USAGE: You may not use AI generated visual or audio assets in your final content. However, for the purposes of your pitch and pre-production materials, you are welcome to use generative AI to create visuals, storyboards, animatics, proofs-of-concept, etc. that might help the Sponsor understand your vision for creating the final content. Additionally, assistive AI tools (e.g. object removal, compositing, color grading, sound mixing, subtitling, etc.) may be used in post-production to supplement your workflow. Please keep record of any AI usage deployed in your submissions in the event that the Sponsor requests AI disclosures. If you have questions about any specific usage or tool, please ask your Tongal producer.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

Please be sure to carefully review the example content in this folder of HILTON'S CINEMATIC REALITY PHOTO AND VIDEO REFERENCES.

HILTON SAN FRANCISCO UNION SQUARE: 
"Everything happens here. Hilton Union Square is not a place you pass through - it is the destination. Scale, energy, and choice define the stay."

Hilton Union Square is San Francisco's urban anchor, the largest hotel on the West Coast, home to the city's highest sky bar, and physically woven into Union Square for over 60 years. The hotel IS part of the San Francisco story. The Cityscape Sky Bar is a San Francisco experience, not just a hotel amenity. The balcony suites deliver views no other hotel in the city can match. Union Square positions itself as the city's natural center of gravity and this content must own that positioning visually.

Main attractions to highlight: The unique beauty of skyline views from rooms and sky bar city vistas at blue hour.

• Hero Locations/ and Times of Day:
  • Main Lobby + Lobby Bar – Morning (arrivals) and evening (lobby bar activation). 
    • Avoid check-in time when lobby is busiest
  • Guest Room/Balcony Suite – Sunrise or sunset; any time of day for general room moments
  • Pool Deck – TBD
  • Cityscape Sky Bar – Sunset/dusk.
    
    
• Key Guest Demographics:
  • Primary: Couples marking occasions and experience-driven leisure travelers who want to be in San Francisco, not just near it
  • Secondary: Corporate and business travelers for whom Union Square's central location and meeting facilities are a competitive advantage. Diversity casting must reflect an international guest mix - particularly Asian market travelers - plus LGBTQ+ couples and solo business travelers.

PARC 55 SAN FRANCISCO
"Plug in fast. Move freely. Parc 55 is where the city becomes easy - a base that earns its keep by being perfectly placed and getting out of your way."

Parc 55 is for guests who chose San Francisco on purpose. They have somewhere to be - a restaurant reservation, a cable car to catch, a neighborhood to discover. Parc 55 is the gateway, not the destination. The hotel disappears into the trip in the best possible way. Guests leave feeling like San Francisco let them in and Parc 55 facilitated that. The Ruth Asawa art panels/sculpture at the valet entrance, Kin Khao's Michelin-starred kitchen, and the Union Square address place this hotel at the intersection of local culture and effortless access.

Main attractions to highlight: Bay window views hero every guest room . Will also want to showcase the social energy, ambience and food from Cable 55 Restaurant (not the room itself but the vibe).

Hero Locations/ and Times of Day:

• Main lobby + Lobby Bar – Noon or sunset to capture light through windows.
  • Avoid check-in time when lobby is busiest
• Kin Khao Thai Restaurant – Late morning or between lunch/dinner service, when restaurant is closed to guests.
• Cable 55 Restaurant – Breakfast window (7-9 am) for morning light and energy
• Guest Room – Late afternoon for window light.

Key Guest Demographics:

• Primary: Leisure couples celebrating occasions, family vacation groups, and friend groups making the San Francisco trip finally happen. 
• Secondary: Independent travelers and solo business travelers who value Union Square's walkability over size and spectacle. Casting must reflect international guest mix, particularly Asian market travelers, LGBTQ+ couples, and solo travelers.

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. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• 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 BIBLE & APPROVALS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST prepare a singular pre-production "bible" document with the elements contained below, and that document MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor. We recommend that you use the bible template we provide HERE, or something very similar. The bible can be presented in stages as different elements are ready for review (i.e. it's not expected that storyboards, if required, are ready with your first draft). Apart from the below, you're also welcome to include other key items that you think would be helpful to communicate your plan (e.g. moodboards, lighting, music, shot list, etc.).

Note that there may be multiple rounds of feedback until elements are approved, and if you begin production before you have received final approval, you may need to reshoot or reanimate at your own expense.

• TREATMENT Describe how you plan to execute the content, and how you plan to bring it to life visually. Feel free to use concept art, references, style frames, or mock-ups. If relevant, share additional information about your team, and your process.
• CASTING: Tongal advocates for inclusivity in on-screen representation and diversity in casting. Please submit three to four options per role, with at least one of those options being a person of color. It is preferable to share multimedia content (i.e. video & audio clips) to help the Sponsor gauge the talent's performance, rather than headshots or resumes.
• WARDROBE: Submit descriptions and/or pictures of your cast's wardrobe. You must submit at least two wardrobe options per role. 
• WARDROBE STYLIST: Present at least two options for the Wardrobe Stylist you intend to collaborate with, and ensure the past work that you share is relevant to this project.
• H/MU STYLIST: Present at least two options for the Hair and Makeup Stylist(s) you intend to collaborate with, and ensure the past work that you share is relevant to this project.

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

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Looking for help? Post crew and production opportunities connected to Tongal projects on Backlot. Backlot includes search tools to help you find collaborators and crew by role, skill set, location, and more, for productions of any size and type. Tongal also supports inclusivity in all productions, and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find additional options for staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: Once Content has been submitted and the initial Production Phase completed, greenlit creators will enter into Revisions. Creators will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor's feedback, including photography, which will not require editorial-level post-production. Check out our Filmmaker Resource Portal to access helpful post-production resources like Text-Safe Guides for different platforms, Project File Organization Tutorial, Export Presets, and Captioning services.

MUSIC: If you use music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's music providers: Universal Production Music, PrimalHouse, or Slipstream. 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 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.

STOCK FOOTAGE: Tongal has partnered with the stock footage library Storyblocks, which can be used to source video clips, photography, and After Effects templates for your video submission to this project. Video or photo content from Storyblocks is available at no charge, solely for incorporation into submissions on this project, and will not require a separate Release Form. If identifiable people or intellectual property appears in a video clip or photo, you may only utilize assets that are clearly marked “Model released: Yes” or “Property release: Yes” on the clip description pages. You may NOT use any audio.

If you intend to use Storyblocks, inform your Tongal producer, and an account will be created for you to access the library. Once assets are approved for delivery, you must provide a complete list of all Storyblocks content that you used via our template HERE.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: 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 any costs associated with the hard drive and shipping. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.

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.