Produce a fun, authentic, and trend-worthy TikTok video that promotes fans to tune in to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship race happening in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, November 5th.
*This is an fast-moving timeline and all final files are due by 10/26*
Calling all NASCAR racing fans, it's time for the most intense race of the year! Drivers have battled all year long to make it to Championship Weekend in Phoenix, where the Championship 4 drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series will compete to earn the title of 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Champion on Sunday, November 5th. There will be an electricity in the air as the drivers will do whatever it takes to etch their name in the history books during this showdown in the wild west. This race will be set against the stunning backdrop of the Estrella Mountains, in a state-of-the-art facility that’ll be packed with intense on-track action, and NASCAR is looking for creators to help build even more excitement, and let people know that this race will be so epic, you just can't miss it.
The goal of this project is for NASCAR to find up to two different filmmakers, each of whom will create a :15–:60 video for TikTok that can drive viewers to watch the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at the Phoenix Raceway. We are looking to highlight the intensity of the upcoming race in a fun, unexpected, and lighthearted way. Your videos should be engaging, and clever; humor is encouraged, and an authentic tone, look, and feel is important. If your video feels too much like an ad, it's probably not going to work, and you should check out some of the previous videos they've created in the Background as they're really helpful references.
Creatively, this is otherwise very open-ended, and we'd encourage editors, animators, and live action filmmakers alike to pitch. If it's helpful, the NASCAR team has even provided some assets - graphics, photos, and videos - that you can use in your videos, but you can also use relevant content from previous NASCAR races if you find something good on YouTube. Lean into social tropes, memes, trendy sounds and catchy editing or unique transition techniques. Look at relevant TikTok trends, and think about the ways you can use stickers, text, or other native TikTok features to make your video stand out.
As a thought starter, you could take footage of yourself looking more and more like the ultimate NASCAR fan as race day approaches, or shoot a POV video showing what it must be like to be The Bill France Cup Trophy once the winner picks you up. You could also supercut edits from previous Championship races, paint a mural of the Phoenix speedway, or green screen yourself into scenes from past content to pretend you were a part of the race. You may also want to include imagery of the race trophy too, The Bill France Cup, which has already been traveling all over Arizona. You could animate it racing through all the different locations, and have it end at the Phoenix raceway, or be crafty, and recreate the Bill France cup out of car toys. Selfie-style filming is cool, and if you do happen to live in the Phoenix area, we could even arrange access for you to film at the track.
Be sure to check out NASCAR's TikTok to see the different tones, styles, and prompts they've been playing with, and see what viewers are responding to. With a good pitch, there is a possibility that NASCAR could choose to have you create more than one video so we encourage you to include multiple creative concepts or video executions in your pitch.
For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: There is 1 total video asset, per creator.
EXPECTED TIMELINE: This is an expedited timeline with all final files due by 10/26
RELEVANT ASSETS: HERE
EXPOSURE: 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 it is NOT limited to these platforms. You should also review our Music providers in the Project Requirements, as well as the platform best practices.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Millennial and Gen Z NASCAR fans
TONE/FEEL: Fun, Authentic, Exciting & Celebratory
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
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.
KEY MESSAGING:
HELPFUL REFERENCE VIDEOS FOR INSPIRATION/TONE:
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.
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.
If you begin production before you have received final approval, you may need to reshoot or reanimate at your own expense.
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. 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 three music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound. 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.
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.