We're looking for 12 talented, social-savvy creators to join the Tongal Lightning Team and shape content for Tongal's Instagram and other social channels. Whether you're creating your own ideas or working with fellow creators on collaborative projects, we're looking for people who love making cutting-edge social creative that informs, entertains, and surprises.
Tongal's Lightning Team reflects our desire to create innovative work that blurs the line between show-stopping production and scroll-stopping authenticity. We're looking for 12 creators of different disciplines to join the team - a mix of filmmakers, designers, illustrators, animators, writers, editors, comedians, educators, researchers, makers, storytellers, and more - including on-camera talent and those who prefer to let their art do the talking.
Social creativity moves fast, and the best ideas often come from being connected with other creative talent. So our Lightning Team leans into that spirit. Throughout your three months on the Lightning Team, you'll be able to pitch ideas you'd like to make yourself, and build on ideas shared by other Lightning Team members. You'll also be able to join brainstorming conversations and creative prompts and create quick-turn content around Tongal initiatives, internet culture, and industry news. You're also encouraged to contribute your expertise even if you aren't leading a project. Some ideas will remain solo projects while others may naturally grow into collaborations; that's all up to you!
In terms of budgets, we're obviously looking at a range of different types of content, and while some of this content will be more everyday, lower-lift social content, we do want to be able to produce some more ambitious social content too, so you can expect a range of budgets. Budgets will range from around $150 for a basic, quick-turn asset to around $600 for more involved projects. The budgets will be flexible and reflect what we're trying to accomplish. We will also pay $50 if you submit an idea that someone else executes.
Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
EXPOSURE: Tongal is committed to promoting the amazing talent of our creators, and posts will be credited and shared collaboratively on our @Tongalteam Instagram channel. We will also spotlight all new Lightning Team members on our grid. So this will also be an opportunity to grow your own visibility and following, and reach an audience of creative talent and industry decision-makers.
DELIVERABLES: Deliverables and budgets will vary depending on the format and discipline, but we are broadly looking for creators to submit two to three ideas per week, some of which we will greenlight, with the aim being for each creator to execute/produce around two to three assets per month. Those with design skills could also be asked to create more quick-turn still assets for posting on Instagram Stories and other channels.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Entertainment and culture lovers, Tongal clients, Tongalers, and filmmakers, editors, writers, and animators in general.
TONE: Exciting, innovative, funny, inspiring, artistic, supportive.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
The Tongal Lightning Team is an initiative designed to showcase the work of our global creative community, while making cool shit for the Tongal Instagram channel. The goal here is to feature content “by creators, for creators" so potential team members should consider the kind of posts they’d most like to see on the channel — and how their skillset can contribute to the conversation — when pitching.
We are looking for both stand-alone content and recurring content series. We are completely open to seeing what you can uniquely bring to the table, but here are some previous @TongalTeam posts and potential formats to get your wheels turning:
CONTENT BUCKETS WE PLAY IN:
In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission.
The most compelling pitches will be greenlit, and the responsible creator will then receive an email from Tongal's team 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.
PRE-PRODUCTION: Prior to creating ANY official Social Assets, Lightning Team members must connect with their Tongal Producer to receive brand guidance.
MUSIC: If you use any music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's music providers - Slipstream Music and Universal Production 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 about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above.
If you choose to use custom or 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 content 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 beforehand, and an account will be created for you to access the library and its features. Once your video submissions are approved by the Sponsor, 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 the costs associated 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.