Using an existing concept as inspiration, show us your comedy chops and edit together an entertaining mashup video with scenes from some of USA Network's biggest properties, and help us celebrate the big characters - and even bigger personalities - in its original series.

Big, bold, brave - and tons of fun - these are the personalities on USA Network. With fan favorites like Law & Order: SVU, Chrisley Knows Best, Growing Up Chrisley, the upcoming Chucky TV series, or staples like Chicago PD, USA Network is THE destination for larger-than-life characters who are authentically and unashamedly themselves. So... how about we mash some of these characters together, and have even more fun with them? 

Yep, that's the goal here: we're looking for you to create an entertaining :30 mashup video using scenes from some of USA Network's most popular TV shows. USA Network has provided four concepts for different creative approaches, which you can find in the Background section, and you should select one as the basis for your video. We've also provided a list of TV shows that you can pull from, but note that no USA Network branding or title cards are necessary for your video. This isn't ultimately about paying fan service to existing fans of any particular program; it's about entertaining everyone, and converting fans of one show to become fans of the channel itself. 

Cleverness is key with any mashup - it has to feel unexpected and surprising - and much of that comes from some kind of comedic twist, so think about how you're going to set expectations, and then you're going to defy them to get a laugh. It's also important that your edit feels seamless, so think about trying to establish some consistency in the cuts through dialogue and grammar, eyelines, lighting, sound, and music. The internet loves a good mashup, so there's tons of inspiration out there, as well as some helpful tips and tricks, and we'd recommend checking that out if you need it. 

For your pitch submission, we're looking for you to edit a :30 sample video using one of the concepts provided in the Background section. It's not realistic that we'd be able to provide assets for this phase, so you should scour YouTube and any other sources you have for the footage you need to build your edit. We'll ultimately provide high-res footage if you're selected. For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES:

• One :30 mashup video (16x9, 4x5)
• One :15-:20 mashup cutdown (16x9, 4x5)

TIMELINE: For the full project timeline

EXPOSURE: USA Network owned social media accounts, including USA's Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• TV enthusiasts of all stripes. 
• Fans of USA Network shows and talent. The goal is to convert fans of individual shows to become fans of the USA Network channel and social media accounts.

TONE: Celebratory, clever, surprising, fun, bold, broad, and comedic.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Videos CANNOT use music or themes from any TV shows. If you need clean audio, it can be provided to selected filmmakers with the high res footage.
• Videos CANNOT use footage with any guest stars in LAW & ORDER: SVU episodes; you should focus on the main cast.  
• You can ONLY source footage from the approved USA Network shows listed in the Background.

MASHUP VIDEO CONCEPTS: Your video submission must be based on ONE of the following concepts. Note that two revolve around specific program pairings, but you have a lot of flexibility selecting programs for the others. 

1.  LAW & ORDER: CHRISLEY DIVISION - Let's look at the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit team profiling a dangerous new suspect that they haven't been able to figure out just yet: Todd Chrisley. Imagine, "Guy's probably a loner...Impulsive, keeps changing his hunting grounds..." cut together with mysterious footage of someone driving around, carrying something, loading what looks like bodies into a car... only to reveal Todd Chrisley is driving a bunch of mannequins around.
   
   
2. SMALL SUSPECT - Let's see one of the ace teams from either Chicago PD or Law & Order SVU investigating the scene of a crime and profiling a new suspect cut together with scenes from Chucky, in anticipation of the upcoming TV series. Note that there's a chance you'll be given exclusive access to new footage from the show, but you'll want to work with existing footage from the Chucky franchise (preferably Child's Play 1, 2, or 3) for now.
   
   
3. CHARACTER REACTION VIDEO - Play a big scene from a USA Network show, and have a character from another show react as if they're watching the show. Imagine Nanny Faye from Chrisley Knows Best reacting to a huge reveal in SVU.
   
   
4. JUST A CONVERSATION - This one's a classic. We're looking for you to make it seem like two characters from different shows are having a real conversation with each other using clever editing. Where some of the other concepts rely on a specific hook, this one's more open ended, but since there isn't a hook, it's on you to make it feel fresh, engaging, and fun. With a conversation, it's about good reaction shots, and thoughtful scripting. Although we have Law & Order and Todd Chrisley above, imagine a scene with an emotional appeal from the defense on Law & Order... intercut with Todd Chrisley crying and stumbling through a reply... but in the end, we discover he's actually eating a hot pepper.

USA NETWORK TV SHOWS YOU CAN USE:

• Law & Order: SVU
• Chicago PD
• Chrisley Knows Best
• Growing Up Chrisley
• Chucky (For your pitch, please only reference Child's Play 1, 2, or 3. TV footage can be provided)

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): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video. 
  

• 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.

• SAMPLE VIDEO (REQUIRED): Please submit one :30 sample video based on the information provided in the Objectives and Background sections.

• TREATMENT (OPTIONAL): 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.

The three most compelling pitches will be greenlit, and the responsible creators 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. Please see the full payment schedule in the Timeline.

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 USA-approved music provider Source Audio 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. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor’s organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. 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.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. 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.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. 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.