Create a quirky, crafty, and imaginative vertical social video to showcase how you'd make SpongeBob Squarepants-themed craft using ocean debris and plastics to raise awareness around Paramount's commitment to remove 5 million pounds of ocean debris and plastics by 2027.

It's hard to believe, but the beloved and iconic SpongeBob SquarePants is celebrating its 25th anniversary on television. In case you've been living under a rock like Patrick Star, the show takes place underwater in Bikini Bottom where a ton of aquatic adventures unfold. To celebrate the show's underwater setting and help the environment at the same time, Paramount has pledged to remove 5 million pounds of plastic and debris by 2027 in honor of SpongeBob’s 25th anniversary. Their cleanup efforts have already collected over 1.5 million pounds from oceans and ocean-bound waterways across the globe. In addition to their own company commitment, Paramount has created a number of campaigns to challenge kids (and kids at heart) to "act like a sponge" to protect our oceans, and you'll be needed for part of that.

To help raise awareness about this initiative in a fun and creative way, Paramount wants you to make a SpongeBob-themed craft using ocean debris and plastics, and create a vertical social video to document the process for TikTok and Instagram Reels. This is all about "craft" or "maker" video executions, where you build, bake, or sculpt with unique materials, and also film your creation using fun and engaging editing techniques. If you have experience with mixed media and unconventional artistry, then step right up, but make sure you've got a smart approach to showcase your art.

In terms of edit structure, Paramount wants audiences to see the finished craft at the beginning of the video, and then transition into a montage sequence where we see the making of the craft, before revealing the finished craft again at the end. There may also be a CTA at the end that speaks to Paramount's sustainability initiative, but that's TBD (the greenlit filmmaker will be provided with more information). Paramount is open to both live-action and stop-motion approaches, but the real focus of the video should be the craft itself, and showing off the inventive details and clever construction. 

Your craft can be of a single character, or multiple characters, or even an entire diorama. Importantly, any depictions of the characters must be wholly original works (i.e. not still images pulled from the show), and the characters must stay as close to the original designs as possible. Have a little fun here, and think about how the medium you're working with might shape the design itself.

We also encourage you to submit an optional proof-of-concept video that illustrates how your idea would come to life. Your proof of concept should be designed for social media, shot in a 9x16 aspect ratio, and up to 15 seconds long. Feel free to include links to any existing social videos (they don't have to be your own) that represent the style you'd be aiming for. While Paramount's intention is to greenlight just one creator, there is the chance they could greenlit multiple creators if the ideas are different enough, so let your ~imagination~ run wild! 

For any questions or other project updates, check out the Background and Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: Each greenlit creator will create one video:

• One up-to-:30 social video (9x16)

EXPECTED TIMELINE: 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.

• Paramount's Instagram
• Paramount's Facebook
• Paramount's Threads

TARGET AUDIENCE: 

• Young adult/older Gen Z nostalgic fans; Millennial nostalgic fans
• Your ideas should NOT be aimed at young kids.
• Assets should feel contemporary and adult-facing while remaining family-friendly.

TONE/FEEL: Funny, smart, authentic, good-natured, diverse, supportive, celebratory

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• You MAY need to include a CTA at the end of the video. More information will be shared with the greenlit filmmaker. 
• You MAY be able to use the SpongeBob theme song as the background music for your video, but you CANNOT use any sounds or voiceover from the show unless it's explicitly permitted and provided by Paramount. Approved music cues will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker if desired. 
• Any depictions of the characters must be wholly original works. Official reference images of the characters will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker, if necessary. 

OPEN BID:

• This is an open bid project, so you'll get to submit your own budget proposal up to $5,000. If it makes sense, you may submit multiple versions of your bid at a budget, target, and reach price point.
• 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 do move forward, we'll 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 project team.

PARAMOUNT'S COMMITMENT TO REDUCING OCEAN POLUTION:

Paramount and Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences are joining forces with Nickelodeon ahead of SpongeBob’s 25th anniversary in July to reinforce the importance of sustainability and our commitment to remove 5 million pounds of plastic and debris from our oceans.

Why it matters: Paramount and Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences have committed to removing the 5 million pounds of ocean-bound plastic and debris from our oceans by 2027 and are now working with everyone’s favorite sponge to engage audiences around the globe, and their employees, to collectively remove even more. Together with their partners, the company has already supported the removal of 1.35 million pounds.

How Paramount is supporting these efforts:

• Through Our World, Paramount is giving kids and families tools and activities to practice climate action, including a number of water-based sustainability ChangeX grants. Kids can learn more and apply for grants at NickOurWorld.com
• The Act Like A Sponge campaign is an extension of SpongeBob’s 25th celebration, where kids—and adults alike—are encouraged to lean into sustainability to make a difference in some way. Act Like A Sponge brings the franchise's deep ties to ocean conservation to fans via beach clean-ups, global aquarium partnerships, refreshing the beloved Science of SpongeBob program, and the giant Gary trash wheel, debuting later this year.
• Clean Swell & global beach clean-ups - Through their company Community Day, Paramount has partnered on seven beach clean-ups in Miami, New Jersey, New York, Brazil, Portugal, Singapore, and Los Angeles. To continue those efforts, Paramount partnered with the Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app, allowing users to sign up and contribute to cleaning efforts on their own time as part of global virtual beach clean-up. Learn more and join. Paramount is also making a charitable contribution to the Ocean Conservancy.
• As part of their Consumer Products team's financial commitment to remove 5 million pounds of plastic and debris, Paramount partners with the following organizations to bring these efforts to the forefront: Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Plastics Oceans International, Surfers Against Sewage, WORK/First Mile, the Fort Worth Trash Wheel, and Enaleia.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: SpongeBob SquarePants is an animated series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg. The series chronicles the adventures and endeavors of SpongeBob and his aquatic friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The fifth-longest-running American animated series, its popularity has made it a media franchise with over 100M social fans. It is the highest-rated series to air on Nickelodeon. The success of the series has also spawned shows such as Kamp Koral and The Patrick Star Show - all of which, along with the original SpongeBob Squarepants series, make up the SpongeBob Universe.

• SpongeBob Instagram
• SpongeBob TikTok
• SpongeBob Facebook

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 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.
  
  
• BID (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, and the Sponsor would like you to create ALL of the content listed in the Deliverables within a budget total of up to $5,000. You can download the budget template HERE.

• PROOF-OF-CONCEPT VIDEO (Optional): If helpful, we encourage you to submit an optional proof-of-concept video based on the information provided in the Objectives section. Your proof of concept should be designed for TikTok, shot in a 9x16 aspect ratio, and up to 15 seconds. You can even create your proof-of-concept video in the TikTok app itself. Feel free to include links to any existing social videos (they don't have to be your own) that represent the style you'd be aiming for.  The goal is to make your video feel as native to TikTok as possible.

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. 

• TREATMENT Describe in detail 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.

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.

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.