Celebrating 10 years of supporting Western Canadian storytelling

Pitch Submission Guidelines

Updated June 3, 2024

What to submit to us


Basic Information


  • Project Title
  • Producer(s') First & Last Name(s)
  • Primary Contact Producer's First & Last Name
  • Primary Contact Producer's Email Address
  • Primary Contact Producer's Phone Number
  • Production Company name and Website URL (if available)
  • Attestation: I have read, and I agree to be legally bound by the
    TELUS originals Pitch Submission Release
     for this project.
  • Is this the first time you've submitted this particular pitch to TELUS originals? If no, please provide a summary of significant changes below, and then continue to populate this submission form, including updated materials.
  • Logline (If submitting a docuseries, please enter a series logline)

Eligibility


  • In which region will 80% or more of the film be shot?
      • We have 15 budgets, one for each of our CRTC designated regions across B.C. and Alberta. All our films are required by the CRTC to be primarily based in one of these regions.
      • Example: If a pitch set in Prince George is funded, it will receive funding from that region's budget and is required to be locally reflective of that region with 80% or more of the filming set there. That means, 20% or less of the film can be shot anywhere else, including outside of B.C. or Alberta.
  • Docuseries can be either set entirely in one region or each episode can be set in a different region. For example, if your docuseries is set entirely in Edmonton, please only select Edmonton. If each episode takes place in separate regions (i.e. Ep 1 in Vernon, Ep 2 in Red Deer, Ep 3 in Prince George), please select each of those regions.
      • B.C.'s Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sea to Sky to the Sunshine Coast
      • Calgary Region
      • Campbell River, Comox Valley, Nanaimo to Duncan
      • Edmonton, Camrose, Hinton, Whitecourt, Namao, Vegreville
      • Fort McMurray, Fort MacKay
      • Greater Victoria Region
      • Grande Prairie, Peace River, Slave Lake
      • Lethbridge
      • Kamloops
      • Kelowna
      • Medicine Hat
      • Penticton, Osoyoos, Trail to Creston
      • Prince George
      • Red Deer, Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Ponoka
      • Vernon, Salmon Arm
  • Please indicate which of our social impact narrative pillars your project most closely reflects:
      • Health and well-being
      • Environment and sustainability
      • Connectivity and technology
      • Flourishing youth, families and communities

Run Time


  • What is the estimated run time (in minutes) of the film or series you're pitching? For docuseries, please provide combined estimated total run time.
  • What is the estimated run time (in minutes) of the bonus content your pitch proposes? Bonus content can either be one or multiple assets such as an extended interview(s), extended scenes, etc. Including bonus content is required and must be set on-location in the region where the funding is coming from.

Development History


  • Please provide the development history of this project. Including:
      • Source and amount of any development financing
      • Description of existing rights agreements and/or clearances
      • A statement of your relationship to any underlying IP for your project

Pitch Document


  • Please upload a 3-8 page pitch document, which clearly sets out the following:
      • Logline
      • Synopsis
      • Background and themes
      • What is the film? (primary story focus, narrative approach, visual references)
      • Confirmed and proposed subjects
      • Director's statement
      • For docuseries, please include a short synopsis for each episode, as well as a sample episode structure
      • Bonus content assets to complement the film or series
  • Would you like to provide any video support materials for this project? (i.e. a sizzle reel, selects). Please note, video support materials are not required.

Key Creative


  • Please upload a document outlining the Key Creatives attached to the project, including:
      • Key Creatives' names, role and short bios (required)
      • Director(s) and Producer(s) list of credits (required)
      • Links to previous video work samples (encouraged)

Budget, Financing and Schedule


  • Please upload your Preliminary Budget. We encourage you to upload both a budget top sheet and a detailed budget. Please use an industry standard template; we recommend the TeleFilm Micro-budget Production template.
  • What is the license amount you are requesting from TELUS originals?
  • Please upload your Financing Structure. Indicate the source, amount and whether it is confirmed or pending.
  • Does this project have a pending or confirmed second window presale? If so, from whom? A second window presale is not required. Please note; Knowledge, TVO and APTN are the only allowable second window presales. TELUS does not come in for second windows.
  • Please upload your proposed Production Schedule. Include preliminary rough cut, fine cut, picture lock, and delivery date. Delivery must be on or before June 30, 2026.

Audience Development and Marketing


  • Who are the primary and secondary target audiences for this film?
  • Please upload a preliminary audience development plan that outlines the initial marketing, promotion and exhibition plans for this project. TELUS originals expects producers to include marketing and publicity line items in their production budget.

Final Details


  • Have you discussed this project with a TELUS original Production Executive? A prior chat is not necessary, but if you have discussed it with anyone, it would be helpful for us to know.
  • How did you hear about TELUS originals?
  • Attestation: I acknowledge TELUS has my express consent to collect, use or disclose the information I shared in this form.
  • All file uploads need to be in PDF format and the max. file size is 50 MB.