Produce an impactful sizzle video for social media to spotlight PBS programs that feature black, indigenous, and other people of color, and to help inspire audiences to tune in to PBS.
PBS has been entertaining and educating Americans since 1969. Their programming is full of incredible documentaries, insightful news programs, compelling drama series, and a host of other shows exposing American viewers to the worlds of music, theater, dance and art. They have something for Americans of every age and background, and they have programming that reflects that diversity too - and that's why we're here now. PBS wants to showcase their wide array of programming, while simultaneously celebrating some of the programming that features black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC).
The goal of this project is to celebrate the diversity in America that PBS represents through their breadth of dynamic, riveting and entertaining programs, and we'll do it by creating a :60 sizzle video for social media that leverages visuals from that programming. PBS has provided a collection of videos, stills, logos, and other assets to pull from, but we're not just looking for a simple montage here - we really want to see creativity and artistry shine. Think about your transitions, consider motion graphics, intercuts, pre-laps, unique sound design or even mixed media - so long as these programs and the core message of celebrating the BIPOC community is front and center in the sizzle. You can find a list of relevant PBS programs to in the Background section. PBS has also provided their brand guidelines to help orient you further on their brand and handling their assets.
We encourage the use of dynamic on-screen text as well as voiceover, although they are not mandatory. However, if any spoken audio, whether it's voiceover or audio from the assets themselves, is included in your execution then burned in captions will need to be provided. Please ensure that all on-screen text and captioning is within the text safe zones for their respective aspect ratios. PBS will handle key messaging in the actual posting copy that they share with these posts on social media, so your sizzle doesn't need to do the heavy lifting there. This is a great chance to celebrate some amazing shows, discover some that you may not have heard about, and really stretch your creative muscles. The aspect ratios for this sizzle will be 9x16 and 1x1, so as you're thinking through your execution please keep this top of mind. PBS also wants to bring over audiences who may only think of PBS as a station with kids programming, so let's avoid anything that feels like its targeting children.
For your pitch phase, please create a :15 sample video using the provided assets, to show PBS your editing style and how you plan to blend the visuals together cohesively.
NOTE: There is another PBS project live on Tongal right now with a similar ask, and they're willing to consider the same filmmaker(s) for both. If you plan to pitch on both projects please be sure to differentiate your pitches, as your approach will need to be different for each project. For more information check out the Background section, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.
DELIVERABLES: There are 2 total video assets.
EXPECTED TIMELINE: HERE.
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: BIPOC individuals that are US based and 35+ years old.
TONE/FEEL: Fresh, Unique, Young, Inspirational, informative, celebratory, inviting.
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.
SHOWS TO FEATURE:
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.
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.
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.