We are looking for multiple filmmaking teams to capture vertical first-person POV iPhone content documenting a "stay" at multiple different Hilton hotel properties in one of six global locations. You will be responsible for all aspects of a stripped down social-first production, but will hand all raw assets off to a campaign director, who will then edit your dynamic, high-energy footage into short, immersive, guided travel videos for YouTube Shorts, Instagram and TikTok.
At Hilton, The Stay is everything. It sets the tone for your whole trip and can make or break your entire travel experience. Luckily, Hilton is built to provide the ultimate Stay experience, from well-appointed hotel rooms and communal areas to unique amenities and stand-out Hilton hospitality. As part of an ongoing "Stay Tours" social campaign, Hilton has been shining a spotlight on individual properties from all around the world, with short vertical guided travel videos that shows all that these properties have to offer.
As part of that campaign, we are looking to greenlight up to six Tongal creators to capture Stay Tours content, which involves first-person POV or "follow-me" style vertical videos, which will take the viewer through an actual "Stay experience" at up to six different properties across one of five unique locations. The locations range from domestic US destinations like Los Angeles, to international destinations like Belfast, Dubai, and Shanghai, and there's a range of properties within each location, each with its own identity. The locations are listed in the Background, but the actual properties will be provided to you if you're selected.
If greenlit, you'll capture vertical first-person POV content on an iPhone at each property for your location, giving viewers a guided tour of all of the hallmarks of "the Stay," as if from the vantage point of a traveler documenting their Stay on their phone. You'll capture universal moments, like entering the lobby and using the Digital Key in the Hilton Honors App to unlock and enter the guest room, as well as revealing amenities, which will be unique to each specific property. Once you've captured your footage, a campaign director will then take your immersive, guided content, and turn it into a dynamic, engaging vertical video up to :60 long that'll be relatable and exciting for viewers and travelers worldwide. You won't be responsible for any post-production.
As the project title suggests, this is the fourth season of Stay Tours, and we've linked to some best-in-class videos from seasons past in the Background to give you a strong sense of how to approach production, and what we're looking to see. Ultimately, all of the content created for Stay Tours needs to feel like it's part of the same campaign, so it's crucial that you can execute within the existing style shown in these videos. That said, within that framework, each video needs to be crafted specifically to reflect A) each property's unique highlights, style, and/or amenities; and B) the appropriate "traveler" persona for that stay. The persona should inform how you work with amenities like in-house bars and restaurants, but it also shapes how you might approach an especially great view from the guest room, a spa experience, or more unique equipment in a hotel's fitness center.
Since these should be shot like true first-person POV videos, we should really only see hands (holding the camera, opening the door, picking up a drink, etc.), so you can reuse the same talent across multiple videos, but we do want to see diversity on screen, which means you'll probably need more than one set of hands. It's not mandatory, but we'd love to see casting options in your pitch. Hilton will provide a room at each property for filming, although you should NOT assume that you can stay in this room overnight, and each property's available dates for filming will be arranged with the greenlit filmmakers. You should expect to spend a day or two scouting the locations, and one half to one full shoot day per property.
We're providing a budget of $4,000 per property, so depending on the location you're greenlit for, you can expect a production budget between $16,000 and $24,000. While being local to the location you pitch against is definitely helpful, we know some of these cities and countries might require travel, and within that, some of the locations will require a couple of hours of local travel for both the scouts and shoots. Additional travel budget beyond that local travel will be provided where required, but any travel budget will need to be approved by Tongal and Hilton during pre-production.
Note: Greenlit creators should plan to be available for a kickoff call with Tongal and our campaign director in the morning (PST) on Wednesday, 11/20 and with Hilton and the individual property teams from 11/20-22.
For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: Each filmmaker will deliver a hard drive containing the following content for four to six properties:
TIMELINE: HERE
EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below, but if casting talent, please be sure your talent reviews the required Talent Release, as it is not limited to these platforms. You should also review the platform best practices page.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Broadly, the global Instagram and TikTok audiences: Millennials, especially younger millennials, and Gen Z.
TONE: Authentic, clever, energetic, humorous, creative, timely.
EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES:
By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will 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 the project team.
DESTINATIONS & PROPERTIES: While the final list of properties per location is subject to change, the current breakdown is as follows, with a budget of $4,000 per property:
REFERENCE VIDEOS: Here are some best-in-class Stay Tours videos from previous seasons:
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.
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.