Produce a hilarious and wild :20 animated logo video that brings SYFY's late-night "TZGZ" logo to life.

Think of a fire-breathing dragon the size of an ant that rules over a tiny planet that lives in a drop of water at the bottom of a bong. Once you're there, you're in the right headspace. See, TZGZ gets weird. Funny as hell, but definitely weird. TZGZ is SYFY's late night animated comedy block, and basically what happens when SYFY stays up past its bedtime. We're talking hilarious, twisted, trippy, irreverent, self-aware, and very adult - but still geared towards fans of genre content. 

SYFY needs some more funny and wild logo videos for TZGZ, and if you're an animator who loves sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and genre content, we're giving you free rein to create some. 2D, 3D, stop-motion, claymation, papercraft, whatever. These are short, animated :20 videos, and with that, you can weave a short and comedic little narrative, but you've also got to do something fun with TZGZ itself. 

And speaking of the logo, TZGZ's gotten an upgrade. Their new logo is a bendy, trippy animated loop. Check out the Background / Additional Details section for more info on how to use the new logo - as well as some examples of great past TZGZ idents. 

DELIVERABLES:

• One :20 logo video (16x9)
• One :20 logo video (1x1) - You may simply crop your 16x9 videos, but the logo must be safe, and you may deliver a second version specifically designed for 1x1 if you prefer. 

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 comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and genre content 

TONE: Hilarious, weird, provocative, mind-bending, absurdist, playful, a little off-kilter. If we watch and laugh and go "WTF?!" then you did your job.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Be funny. This is a direct order. Failure to obey this order will result in a court martial. Or a pass on your submission; something like that. 
• You videos must have some sort of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, or genre element. Feel free to interpret that broadly and combine genres, use sub-genres, or bring a retro spin on genres from another era. Be specific though, and avoid all boring and generic elements that people have seen before. For example: UFO abductions - we've seen dozens. You can do better.
• Your video MUST end with the TZGZ logo; you may use this sizing reference for the final position of the relevant logo. The logos must be horizontal, 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 “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.

NOTE: You should submit a separate pitch for each individual video that you'd like to produce. SYFY may select multiple 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. 

You can check out a static version of the TZGZ logo HERE. It's typically animated, so imagine it undulating and morphing and bending, and you'll see that in some of the example videos below. If you're greenlit, you'll be provided with the animated logo, and you're encouraged to cut in or out of the looping animation at any point. SYFY wants to see different sections of the loop in different logo videos. 

The color & texture of the logo should tie into your individual videos. You should apply your own aesthetic & colors/textures that match the piece - there's no need to stick to any color seen in the toolkit. But let's try to keep it bright and flashy. This is TZGZ, after all! If you want to do papercraft or stop-motion or another form of animation that doesn't lend itself to using the animated logo file, there's some leeway to interpret the TZGZ logo in a more practical way. We'll work all that out in pre-production. 

While this is not a requirement, SYFY's looking for videos that make it clear what the TZGZ letters are, and that take advantage of how weird it is to say "T-Z-G-Z." Think about how you can sound it out, spell it out, sing it out, shout it out, or mumble, whisper, and meow it. If you've got a clever mnemonic to help audiences remember T-Z-G-Z, try that. Your videos can be musical in nature, heavily sound designed, and even include VO.  Bonus points for anything that incorporates the premise of the block (i.e. TZGZ is the animated side of SYFY).

Don’t force the audio element if you can't make it work - but think about it.

PREVIOUS LOGO VIDEOS FOR REFERENCE:

• TZGZ Zit Pop  (w/ current logo)
• TZGZ Character Shuffle (w/ current logo)
• TZGZ Logo Faces (w/ current logo)
• TZGZ Pied Piper (w/ current logo)
• TZGZ Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
• TZGZ Rainbow Kitten Surprise
• TZGZ Possum Trip
• TZGZ Vacuum Monster
  
  

GENERAL TZGZ CONTENT FOR REFERENCE:

• Gary and His Demons
• Science!
• High Wizard
• TZGZ Bedtime Stories
• Magical Mythical Creature Features
• The Lioness

NOTE: You can still pitch on this even if you've been selected to produce other TZGZ logo video idents.

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. Consider checking out our Pitch Video Gallery to see examples of effective pitch videos. 

NOTE: You should submit a separate pitch for each individual video that you'd like to produce. SYFY may select multiple 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 9 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 animators may begin working on their Video until all approvals are completed and the Video Phase has officially begun. If you begin animating your Video during the Pre-Production Phase before you have received final approval, there is a chance you will need to re-animate (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 greenlit submitters will enter the Revisions 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. 

FONTS: If you use any actual fonts (as opposed to drawing your own letters) you will be required to use the SYFY-approved font service Monotype to source fonts for your Video submissions to this project. Fonts from this provider are available only to the Pitch Winners at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Release. Pitch Winners will be provided with a log-in and access by a Tongal producer once they are selected.

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 are responsible for the costs associated the hard drive 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.