Produce a :20 short animated TV spot that brings SYFY's late-night "TZGZ" logo to life through some truly weird, wild, and mind-bending visuals.

What's TZGZ you ask? It's quite simple really: TZGZ is a magical place where lettuce sings, where the undead text, and where wizards get high. Yup, you just read that right - we said where wizards get high. TZGZ is SYFY's late-night adult animation block: wild, playful, hilarious, and psychedelic genre content. Get excited, and then if you're an artist, animator, designer, or director, let's talk about how SYFY needs some weird, wild, mind-bending video idents for TZGZ's logo, because you're gonna make it happen.

These idents are short animated :20 spots. With 20 seconds, you can afford to weave a short, clever narrative, but the attraction is really going to be amazing visuals, and that means doing something fun with the TZGZ logo. Think about how you can creatively reveal it, transform it, transport it, obscure it, fill it in, smoke it out, anthropomorphize it, destroy it, electrify it, or subvert it. Think outside the box, and then think outside the box you put that box in, and give your thought a genre-fied spin.

DELIVERABLES:

• Up to THREE :20 videos. SYFY would love to select creators who can produce multiple videos, although no creator is guaranteed more than one video. 
• Your video should be 16x9, but the action and TZGZ logo should be framed so that it can be cropped for a 1x1 aspect ratio. If you prefer not to have your video cropped, you may deliver a second version specifically designed for the 1x1 aspect ratio.

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline please see the Assets tab. 

EXPOSURE: Videos will air on SYFY during TZGZ programming, and also be posted on SYFY.com, as well on SYFY’s digital and social platforms.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  Adult fans of late-night genre content 

TONE: Wild, provocative, psychedelic, mind-bending, absurdist, playful, hilarious, and/or a little off-kilter. It's SYFY after you puff puff pass. And on that note, SYFY content is already pretty smart, edgy, provocative, and self-aware, so you should have a lot of fun here.  

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Remember that there should be a genre element to this. "Genre" refers to science fiction, fantasy, comic books, and horror, as well as anything that falls under those umbrellas, or combines them. Think about specific sub-genres too - science-fiction and fantasy are HUGE categories that include a ton of different styles, so avoid generic and overly broad approaches and explore genres from any era.
• This is for artists, animators, designers, editors, and makers - NOT live-action filmmakers. Any medium can work, including traditional 2D animation, stop-motion animation, claymation, creative motion graphics, mixed media, etc. 3D animation is acceptable, but hyperrealistic VFX work is difficult given the timeline and budget, so you must show that you can execute within these parameters. You *may* use real-life photography or video to supplement your animation, but it must still feel stylistic and artful. 
• Your video MUST end with the horizontal TZGZ logo, NOT the SYFY logo, and the logo should be on screen for a minimum of 5 seconds. You may use this SYFY sizing reference for the final position of the TZGZ logo. The logo must be readable and visually distinct from the background. i.e. the logo should not completely blend into the environment—it’s an essential part of the spot.
  • The design of the TZGZ logo itself is open for interpretation though, and SYFY is specifically looking for your unique personal style and choice of medium to come through.
  • The “walls” of the logo can be broken if you choose (i.e. a character stepping through the logo; a vine growing beyond the edges of the logo, etc.).
• All work MUST be original, and should NOT include or reference existing IP. Any persons, places or things rendered should be of the artist’s own creation and should not be referential of any existing properties.
• AVOID voiceover, unless it’s absolutely integral to the perspective of the storytelling in your video. 
• AVOID text or type that isn’t related to the T-Z-G-Z of the TZGZ logo.
• AVOID graphically violent or sexual  images, or overtly political subject matter.

NOTE: You should submit a separate pitch for each individual video that you'd like to produce. SYFY may select up to three pitches from a single creator. If you are selected to produce multiple videos, you will receive the same budget for each video. All videos must be produced on the same timeline. 

Remember that although much of the TZGZ logo content relies almost entirely on visuals, your video will need to be more complex and dynamic to fill 20 seconds, and you have time to introduce characters and elements, and actually tell a clever short story. For some examples of TZGZ video idents that SYFY felt had the potential to be expanded, take a look at these:

• TZGZ Conveyor Belt
• TZGZ Juicy
• TZGZ Neature Owl

And then as you dive in, here are the assets you'll need to play around:

• TZGZ Renders
• Reference 1
• Reference 2

In order to be considered for this project you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. 

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• STORYBOARDS (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, anything that helps get your point across. You can download the Tongal storyboard template here.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your pitch. Also, test videos, animatic, etc. are welcome. 

NOTE: You should submit a separate pitch for each individual video that you'd like to produce. SYFY may select up to three pitches from a single creator. If you are selected to produce multiple videos, you will receive the same budget for each video. All videos must be produced on the same timeline. 

The most compelling pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive payments to help create the Videos. Please note the payment of the pitch award is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Please see the full payment schedule in the Assets tab.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to shooting filmmakers must receive the below Approvals from the sponsor.

• TREATMENT – This project requires treatment approval before filmmakers can move onto the Video Phase. The treatment should describe in detail how you plan to execute the short narrative (if any) in your video, and how you plan to bring the storytelling to life visually. You should include graphic and tonal references when possible. The sponsor may provide feedback on your treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until a treatment is approved by the Sponsor.

No filmmakers may begin shooting their Video until all approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin shooting your Video during the Pre-Production Phase before you have received final approval, there is a chance you will need to reshoot (at your own expense).

For your convenience we’ve provided some helpful templates to use at your discretion. They include templates for creating a treatment, production budget, storyboards, shot list, call sheet, and a music cue sheet. Additionally, there are templates that will help you clearly present the Sponsor cast, location, and wardrobe options. They can all be accessed here.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the Video Phase has closed, the filmmakers enter the Revisions Phase. During this phase, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback.

MUSIC: You will be required to use the SYFY-approved music provider Frequency to source music for your Video submission to this Project. Music from this provider is available only to the filmmakers that SYFY selects at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate music release form. Filmmakers will be provided with a log-in and access by a Tongal producer once they are selected. 

If you are selected as a filmmaker and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our music release form. 

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: 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 will be responsible for the costs associated the hard drive (if necessary) and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production please click here.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 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.
   
   
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. 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.
   
   
5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
7. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
8. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. 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 filmmaker.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.