Produce a 7 to 11 minute pilot for a weekly news show about the biggest National Geographic stories of the upcoming week.

Every single week, National Geographic presents its audiences with an absolutely massive stream of incredible content across a multitude of different platforms, from television to Snapchat to live events. If you include every owned channel and sub-brand, it’s nearly 1000 hours of video, and hundreds upon hundreds of photos, as well as countless articles and multimedia stories. Given the scale, most fans will only ever engage with a small part of this vast ecosystem, but that means they’re missing out on some of the biggest stories, so National Geographic needs a way to spotlight brand priorities and key initiatives. 

“This Week @ National Geographic” is a 7-11 minute video series that aims to address that challenge: presenting fans with a bird’s-eye view of what’s happening across the entire ecosystem, and giving the brand an opportunity to curate and call attention to the most important and most relevant events of the coming week; whether that means highlighting a massive Mars story in the magazine, or promoting a Yosemite-themed Instagram takeover. That said, this is NOT just a clip show. This is more like ESPN’s Sports Center or The Star Wars Show - both shows with a lot of personality and an actual point of view on what they cover, in addition to exclusive and original content that audiences won’t find anywhere else. National Geographic needs something with all of that.  

If you’re interested in creating a pilot, with the possibility of doing the actual weekly series, check out more info below…

Produce a 7 to 11 minute pilot for a weekly news show on YouTube about upcoming stories and events that are happening during a given week. For the purposes of pitches and pilot development, we’ll use the week of January 6th through January 12th. National Geographic may select a different week for the pilot, but only past weeks will be considered. You may use ANY content that appeared on National Geographic’s channels during the week of January 6th if it helps you illustrate your format, but we’ve included hand-picked content further below, and note that the content can be used as the topic for any of the segments in your episode. 

Here's what you need to know:

• This is an open bid project and you will need to submit a proposed budget along with your Pitch. The budget range is $5,000-$25,000 for the pilot, so National Geographic is open to wide a range of options. If your pilot is picked up and this goes to series, we will negotiate a per episode budget based on what the completed show looks like. You can download the Budget template HERE.
• This project requires a full production team. Much of the creative ask is editorial in nature, but you will need clever copywriting, motion graphics, design, and animation expertise. If you film live-action segments, you will need a small physical production crew as well. 
• National Geographic will provide existing content to be packaged for the show, and while the brand will also help select what stories should be featured, but you will still be responsible for pulling clips from much longer video assets.
• The Host or Hosts are a critical part of this. You’ll need someone with charisma, authenticity, humor, and an engaging personality. How that’s expressed is up to you, but remember that much of the weight of this show rests on their shoulders. It’s not necessary that hosts appear on-screen though, so an execution driven by strong VO is possible. Think about what makes this a real show and not just a collection of clips, how you’ll communicate information efficiently, and how you’ll be able to incorporate interviews or on-location reporting from special events.
• Graphics & Transitions must be used heavily to give the video a coherent look & feel. You should carefully review and stay close to National Geographic’s abbreviated style guide, which is available HERE, and pay close attention to the section covering “Grids & Structures,” which details the visual language that they use, and which you can quickly preview with these short videos: The Index, Z-Depth & Mapping, The Grid & Mapping. You can also consider creative transitions between clips, such as speed ramps, wipes, intercuts, etc., like some of the clever transitions you see HERE. You will also have access to National Geographic’s fonts and logos.
• Format & Structure make the show. Look to similar weekly and periodical news formats – there’s a lot of variation, but some common elements. You have flexibility and can be creative in exactly how you decide to format this, as well as how you incorporate exclusive content like interviews (which may not be part of the pilot). But to simplify your process, we’ve listed certain components that must be accounted for in some way: 
  1. Opening Teaser – A quick, high-energy 5-10 second opening that hooks the audience with a teaser about the headlines and highlights of this week’s show.
  2. Opening Titles – No more than 3-5 seconds, to establish your show’s identity, and also reinforcing the master brand identity.
  3. Headline News – These are the top stories from around National Geographic that are happening this week. It may not be the longest segment, but it’s the most important. 
  4. Featured Segment – This is the biggest story of the week, and this segment could be anything from extended coverage to in-studio interviews, on-location reports, or behind-the-scenes reveals. 
  5. Call-to-Action / Sponsored Featurette – This is great content that promotes specific revenue-generating initiatives (like National Geographic’s Travel Expeditions). It could also generate engagement on a National Geographic priority (like the Planet or Plastic Pledge) or highlight sponsored partnerships (like the Coors Light “My Next” Series). 
  6. Explorer Spotlight – This piece looks at what’s happening with some of National Geographic’s famed Explorers, as well as other personalities and celebrity figures in the National Geographic family.
• Two different pilots will be produced and tested by National Geographic. The brand will determine whether to move forward to series from there, and which pilot to move forward with. At that point, new timelines will be created and a per-episode budget will be negotiated.

NOTE: This project involves a Pitch Qualification Phase. Please see Details below. Additionally, by participating in this Open Bid project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to select a winning Bid. Though most Open Bid projects on our platform do move forward with a selected Bid, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to award any Bids via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all Open Bid submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the Project Team. 

Example Content from the Week of Sunday, 01/06/19:

• Documentary Story: Free Solo Box Office Results (High Res Film Trailer; Premiere & Press Photos also available)
  • FREE SOLO was in theaters. It ended the weekend grossing $700K+ in IMAX, officially crossing the box office of Three Identical Strangers, as well as achieving the highest box office ever for a doc in week 16 of release, and we officially became the #1 doc released in the UK in 2018.
• Television Highlight: Dead By Dawn Premiere (Show Promo; Premiere & Press Photos also available)
  • Premiered on 01/13, Dead by Dawn is the first-ever horror nature series. This genre-bending series showcases the horror that is reality in the wild when the sun goes down.
• Television Highlight: Valley of the Boom Premiere  (Cast Interviews; Show Promo; Press Photos & BTS Footage available)
  • Silicon Valley circa 1990s was a technology breeding ground that attracted visionaries and charlatans alike. Set during that time, this six-part limited series premiered 01/13 and followed the turbulent ride of three companies whose founders were trying to change the world using the emergent technology of the internet.
• Magazine Story / YouTube: Susan Potter Will Live Forever (Website Mirror & YouTube)
  • Susan Potter donated her body to science. It was frozen, sawed into four blocks, sliced 27,000 times, and photographed after each cut, providing a virtual cadaver that will speak to medical students from the grave. National Geographic has been documenting Potter’s journey for 16 years.
• Magazine / Web Story: New Dinosaur Species (Website Mirror)
  • A new Dinosaur species was discovered in one of the most complete fossils ever found. From it’s shin crushing clubbed tail to it’s Ghostbuster’s inspired name, Zuul crurivastator is making waves.
• Travel / 2019 Travel Trends List (Link)
  • Travel trends come and go, but when National Geographic polled more than a dozen leading industry professionals to ask them what travel will look like in 2019, all reports pointed to a single commonality: intention. This breaks down how that plays out with more detail.
• Travel / Top 10 things to Eat in Italy, by Region (Link)
  • Italian food isn’t the result of a single culinary style. It is a delectable mosaic of many regional cooking traditions that stem from each province’s geography and climate, agriculture, history, and culture. Each region provides a different flair—the truffles in Piedmont as authentically Italian as the gelato in Rome, inside the Lazio region.
• Sponsored Story: Brita Partnership Spot (Link)
  • Every year, more than 20 billion plastic bottles end up polluting our planet. It's a problem that will last for generations - but it's something you can help change today. By simply switching to Brita, you can replace up to 1,800 plastic water bottles in a single year, and join Nat Geo in their “Planet or Plastics” pledge to prevent 1 billion plastic items from reaching the ocean by 2020. 
• Social Media Highlights:
  • Asha Devos  - (Link)
  • Spelunking Glasses – (Link)
  • Landfill Storks – (Link)

Additional Info:

--Impact: Outside of all of the content that National Geographic produces, it's a brand that's constantly looking to have a positive impact on the world, and this should be highlighted in some way each week - even if it's not part of an "impact" segment specifically. 

--Tone: Exciting, inspirational, grounded, thought-provoking. Your video should surprise and delight, and embrace the same sense of wonder that you want to communicate to your audience; it doesn’t all have to be super serious. 

--Target Audience: The fans and viewers of National Geographic are as diverse and wide-ranging as can be. You should tap into the inherent human wonder and curiosity that calls all of us to National Geographic in the first place, whoever we are, wherever we are.

--Exposure: This Week @ National Geographic is eventually intended to work across every one of the brand’s video platforms, including television, but the focus of this pilot project should be on YouTube with a traditional 16x9 execution. 

Project Details: This Project will consist of 6 Phases: a Pitch Qualification Phase, a Pitch Phase, a Pre-Production Phase, a Pilot Video Phase, a Revisions Phase, and a Delivery Phase. This Project is also an Open Bid project, so you’ll get to set your final budget proposal. You can download the Budget template here, and should keep in mind that National Geographic would like each producer to create their pilot within a budget range of $5,000-$25,000.

Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: PITCH QUALIFICATION – This Phase gives filmmakers the opportunity to submit a general 1000-character synopsis of their creative approach to “This Week @ National Geographic.” Your submission should also include a *preliminary* budget range, and relevant samples of previous work from both you and from your team. You may also include a short treatment if that’s more convenient than a full written synopsis.

Four (4) Pitch Qualification winners will be selected to move forward into the Pitch Phase and awarded $500 to further develop their pitch, and complete both a detailed show treatment (see template) and a final budget proposal. Please note that Pitch Qualification winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production.

• Pitch Synopsis (REQUIRED) – In 1,000 characters or less, summarize the format and technical execution of your video, address whether or not it’s hosted and how you plan to incorporate graphics, and then sell National Geographic on how you and your team are best-suited to execute the program. 
• Budget Range Proposal (REQUIRED) – You will receive additional creative direction if you are selected in the Pitch Qualification Phase, so it is not expected that you will be able to include a final budget in your initial submission. Nonetheless, please submit a preliminary budget range for what you want to create, within the range of $5,000 to $25,000 for the pilot. 
• Links (REQUIRED) – To your previous video work, and that of your team. Please specify your roles (producer, director, editor, animation, motion graphics, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
• Treatment (Optional) – If you wish to get into greater detail, or include example visuals to elaborate beyond the Pitch Synopsis, you may include a short treatment with additional information about what's going to happen in the video, and how you’d like to approach hosts, episode structure, graphics, etc. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.

Please note that Pitch Qualification winners are not guaranteed to be greenlit into production. If you have any questions about Pitch Qualification, please post to our Forum or reach out to us at info@tongal.com. The 4 most compelling Pitch Qualification Submissions will be selected and upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $500 to help create a full pitch. 

 PHASE 2: PITCH – Submit a Pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?) convincing National Geographic why you should be selected to execute a pilot for “This Week @ National Geographic” using:

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute the pilot for “This Week @ National Geographic.”
• Treatment (REQUIRED): A more detailed description of how you’re going to approach the pilot and the format. You should consider covering each element of the video. This may include, but is not limited to: Hosts, Episode Structure & Segments, Opening Titles, Segment Title Cards, On-screen Graphics, Segment Transitions, Sound Design, Filler Content, and Voiceover. You should also address why you and your team are best-suited to execute the program. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.
• Budget (REQUIRED): Feel free to download and use the Tongal budget template here. 
• Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work, and also that of team members that may be relevant to the project. Please specify your roles (producer, director, editor, animation, motion graphics, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.
• Storyboards (Optional): Additional storyboards, photoboards, visual designs, concept art, or anything along those lines 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 National Geographic to show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a Pitch video in which you tell National Geographic what they can expect should they choose your Pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome.  

--Pre-Production Commencement Payment: The TWO (2) most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will receive an initial payment with 20% of their approved budget for the commencement of pre-production on their Videos. 

For an example of an effective Pitch, check out the Pitch Gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete. 

PHASE 3: PRE-PRODUCTION – The 2 Pitch Winners from the Pitch Phase will enter the Pre-Production Phase (What is a Pre-Production Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will need to receive the following Approvals from National Geographic: 

• SCRIPT – This project requires Script Approval for any scripted segments before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. National Geographic may provide feedback on your Script and ask you to submit a new version. There may be several rounds of feedback until a Script is approved. 
• PILOT TREATMENT – This project requires Pilot Treatment Approval before you can move onto the Video Phase. The full pilot Treatment will breakdown and detail how you will handle each element of the video. This may include, but is not limited to: Hosts, Episode Structure & Segments, Opening Titles, Segment Title Cards, On-screen Graphics, Segment Transitions, Sound Design, Filler Content, and Voiceover. National Geographic may provide feedback on your Treatment and ask you to submit a new version. There may be several rounds of feedback until a Treatment is approved.
• CASTING – This project requires Casting Approval for any host or hosts before filmmakers move onto the Video Phase. You must submit at least two actor options per role. If National Geographic does not approve either of your options for a role, you may be asked to submit two new actor options.

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.

--Production Greenlight Payment: Upon receiving approval from National Geographic for all pre-production approvals, and being greenlit into Video Phase for production, the Pitch winners will each receive an additional payment with the next 40% of their approved budget.

PHASE 4: VIDEO – Once the Pre-Production Phase is complete, the two Pitch Winners will each create a 7 to 11 minute Pilot Video based upon their winning Pitch. 

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with the premiere music providers: Jingle Punks and Epidemic Sound, either of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. 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 separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above. 

Tongal members interested in a more customized music solution for your project are invited to connect with our partner Score A Score. Email a brief description of your project (timing, creative, budget, etc.), along with any specific music direction and/or references to their creative team at music@scoreascore.com and include “Tongal Project - Your Name” in the subject line.  Their creative team will be in touch within a few minutes to discuss the simple process and options with you. Please note that you will be responsible for the fees associated with using Score A Score. 

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your Video paperwork.

PHASE 5: REVISIONS – Once the Video Phase has closed, the winning submitters will enter the Revisions Phase (What is a Revisions Phase?). During this phase, filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their Videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback. 

PHASE 6: ASSETS DELIVERY -  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.

--Final Delivery Payment: Upon submitting final Videos that satisfy the criteria laid out in your winning Pitches, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the Sponsor, the Pitch winners will receive the remaining 40% of their budget.

1. The Video MUST not exceed 11 minutes in length. 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 you be selected as winner, 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, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning 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 award.

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.