The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby dragontamer5788 » Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:44 am

chui101 wrote:With the amount of updating Otakorp does to the official site, by the time anything official is announced, it'll be too late. Pretty much the next thing they're going to put up is going to be the con schedule.


When it comes to politics (especially politics with insider knowledge), there is more to be lost than just A/V Sync. We're talking about VicBond's poisition as AMV Coordinator (or at very least, his standing with the chair and thus we'd directly affect the ability for him to make future requests). Who else in this situation could have told us this stuff? I'm glad that VicBond007 is able to share us this knowledge. And IMO, VicBond007 is in the right in this case. We are content providers, and we should be kept in the loop about this sort of thing. But not everyone will see eye to eye on this.

Did I exaggerate things a bit? Probably. But they do need to get the message that Otakon wouldn't be where it is without us, and that it should remain a con that's by the fans, for the fans.


Lets agree to disagree on this issue. We might be derailing the thread here. Take my views in the previous post as a simple criticism. As I said before, I'm not sure how I'd write the letter anyway. I am willing to continue to bash your email if you want it :twisted: Just give me a PM so that we don't derail this thread.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Jefferys » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:15 am

VicBond007 wrote:I can't give out Otakorp contact information since that's private, but Meredith Davey is the head of programming. This either is public knowledge already, or will be once the program guide is published along with the staff list for this year. The Otakon website also has a contact form with a division for "Programming". "AMV Contest" goes right to me, so don't waste your time, I already know your concerns ;)


Meredith was Head of Panels last year. Make of that what you will, even though panels programming last year did seem to run a lot more smoothly and was handled much better than in 2007 and 2008 IMHO.

VicBond007 wrote:]I don't actually have the OK to hook anything up in Main Events yet. It's entirely possible that I have to burn DVDs, which means recompressing everyone's videos again, and opens your submissions up to theft/copying by shifty staffers/gophers.


I am gophering again this year. Given that Clint is trying to run a tighter ship this year over in the Gopher Dept. I wonder if I should try to make a case to try to help out more with the AMV and Video Ops depts. I have had a friendly rapport with some of the Video Ops staff in the past, but for the most part, video ops tries to make do with how Otakon schedules the various video rooms and what's showing when and where (although I think Bernhard has some pull with Video 4's mostly classic anime track and the times that "Otaku No Video" get to be shown that weekend).

VicBond007 wrote:When your content is on the server, the power button is physically locked with a key. Alan and I are the only people who can access it. Plus, DVDs at Otakon have problems like this:
http://animealmanac.com/2009/07/19/otak ... in-tweets/
Scroll down to "Eva fail!" Sadly this happens every year and we can't do anything about it because we're forced by contract to use DSL as our tech company. They know that they can't be replaced no matter how bad they do. My solution for AMVs, which worked relatively well last year, was to have them install a mechanical switch between DSL's equipment and ours. Good thing, if it wasn't for our equipment, the Eva movie would have been cancelled outright.


I can attest to the server being the Godsend that it totally deserves being. It's a box of wonder and delight, and it works. The shitty thing, though, seems to be the tentative decision to place at least one of the Fan Parodies blocks all the way on the other side of the convention (and probably at rather silly time as well). I really thought Otakorp was above these crazy AX-style tactics...

Sigh, and considering that Tokyopop is having their weird "America's Greatest Otaku" tour presence at Otakon this year, it's no wonder they're giving in to industry pressure... :-/
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby SailorDeath » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:16 am

Honou_Miko wrote:
SailorDeath wrote:Thank you, you just gave me a Topper for at AWA Expo for Most Annoying AMV ever.


Hurrrr, it better not be the same as one of the clips I submitted to AMV Hell. :ying:


Heh I hope not either. I already got a clear idea of what I wanted to do for the video and I certainly don't want to make something only to find out someone else had the same idea. But I already know how I want to make this video and it has to be funny as well as annoying.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Jefferys » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:44 am

VicBond007 wrote:here's the latest from Ree, head of the video dept.
I will try to find some space for AMV overflow...but here is the problem... we just do not have space. We lost two video rooms this year and we are struggling to put everything the companies want to do. I had to get rid of the kids programing and that is a huge blow for the con.


And yet they still have Ota-chan which technically placates that issue to begin with... It's not like I find that to be a total loss for the most part. Most younger kids don't need to be in a mostly dark video room with little to no supervision by a parent/guardian. Not that I want to make any snap judgements or implications here...

VicBond007 wrote:So 2 things. 1, Industry > Fans. 2, non-finalists should be weeded out so that they're not a burden. Oh and 3, ya'll are amateurs ;)

[...]

PS: There's a fuckton of "room". They offered us a huge block of time in main events, the same time that could be used by us in Video 1.


But surely, this year's programming head really doesn't know the logistics of running a video server nor how to cart such a box anyway. I mean, the server is convenient and all that, but you and Alan are the only ones with the access to it anyway. Video ops way of running things is overly reliant on there being a physical object (ie. DVD or VHS tape) to transport to/from the appropriate venues at the scheduled time/day as stated in the programming guide. The problem, though, with running it that way is the presumption that everybody is honest enough not to make off with that hard copy and/or create a duplicate of it as part of the transport process.

FWIW, Video ops tries not to let gopher/volunteers handle the "important" stuff, so well...YMMV...
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Jefferys » Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:08 am

Honou_Miko wrote:...yes. I agree. I want to help so much but this is exactly why I've been hesitant. This will work better, probably, as long as this schedule isn't supposed to be completely final when it is posted.


True, most convention schedules are in some state of flux or another up to and including the actual day of the events. Granted, we're now coming up to two and half weeks until Otakon which does make a pretty stressful and harrowing period time for staffers and attendees alike. Although, when you come right down to the essence that is sheer vastness of today's Otakon, it's not like everybody is going to pleased all of the time. I mean, I expect to be attempting to do at least two or three different things within the Inner Harbor area and whether I want to be doing them at all or not, well, that's something else entirely...

To be honest, I'm not sure if I really am looking to forward to this year's Otakon (mainly for personal reasons mostly), but I'm pretty adaptable and can tolerate some change...within reason...

t should be made clear after the schedule is posted that it would allow no time for voting. Like, this should be made clear to non-editor fans (Otakon boards?). Get the laypeople pissed off too, and I think that will be more effective.


I'm not totally pissed, but then again, my comfort level at Otakon hasn't been entirely pleasant in past years knowing how staff politics can be. I'm not expecting the curtain to be totally pulled back based on certain items of speculation and whatever revelations there are. Indifference can be a cruel joke sometimes, but all in all, I really don't see any reason for disturbing any apple carts right now...
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby alchemist4 » Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:23 am

It's funny cause most of my con going friends...people who lived and breathed Otakon for years are passing on it because its just gotten too commercial, too poorly run, and too boring frankly. Because Otakon has gotten so big, they are starting to lose focus on what made a con "a con" to begin with. Travel back to a time when a bunch of people worked their asses off to ensure the fans got what they want and people had a good time overall. Now people work their asses off to please the powers that be. I think that's why people might gravitate to smaller cons in the end because that's what Otakon used to represent.

It's just a shame cause the highlight of Otakon was the stellar AMV contest showing because of Vic's work. I've been to many shows with distorted audio, no audio, cropping issues, etc. When you enter Otakon's AMV show you are ensured that things will have a high probability of things going smoothly and looking good (even in the Overflow, which many cons might see as a throwaway). Perhaps that's why I desire the most to be a finalist in an Otakon show over any other haha.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby SailorDeath » Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:48 am

VicBond007 wrote:here's the latest from Ree, head of the video dept.

So 2 things. 1, Industry > Fans. 2, non-finalists should be weeded out so that they're not a burden. Oh and 3, ya'll are amateurs ;) Please don't go quoting this e-mail. I probably shouldn't be sharing (though the e-mail came from her hotmail account and thus isn't accompanied by the usual "property of Otakon, for private use only" disclosure) but you folks should know where you stand in Otakorp's eyes. This is the behind closed doors stuff that they probably don't want the "amateurs" hearing about.

PS: There's a fuckton of "room". They offered us a huge block of time in main events, the same time that could be used by us in Video 1.


Room has always been an issue with Acen's amv department as well. Every year they have to figure out where we'll be. I know some people complained about the room we had this year and I had those same complaints while we were setting up. But for next year we have a crystal idea of how we want to set the room up, we made some adjustments on what kind of screens we need (ones that can be seen from the very back row), and we even know what kind of equipment we need to get.

But the important thing to note is that I've never had anyone speak to me like that regarding AMV fans or my department. The attitude I picked up in that convo is one I dread seeing cons take on: The fans are like cattle and will eat anything the convention throws into the trough." Basically they feel that AMVs are disposable so they can kill them off and nobody is gonna complain but the amv people. The folks in charge may get mad seeing all those e-mails but at the same time, if they don't see how people are going to be upset, then in their minds they really think nobody cared.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby irriadin » Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:59 am

Maybe I can't say much since I've only been to Otakon once (and it was the only con I've been to) but I never felt that it was "too commercial."

Anyway, moving to the issue with the schedule. I think the main problem is that it appears that some people on staff look at the Overflow as being dispensable; granted, it's a viable position. But I'm pretty sure even the overflow showings of the contest are still very popular, much more so than most of the video rooms, which are sometimes nearly empty or filled with sleeping people. Not to mention the overflow definitely is an incentive to submit stuff to the contest, knowing that by doing so your video will most likely be shown in some fashion.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Jefferys » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:49 am

irriadin wrote:Anyway, moving to the issue with the schedule. I think the main problem is that it appears that some people on staff look at the Overflow as being dispensable; granted, it's a viable position. But I'm pretty sure even the overflow showings of the contest are still very popular, much more so than most of the video rooms, which are sometimes nearly empty or filled with sleeping people. Not to mention the overflow definitely is an incentive to submit stuff to the contest, knowing that by doing so your video will most likely be shown in some fashion.


Overflow has the nice touch that even though the pre-screenings to determine the finalists are chosen at best a minimum number of select fans, it's the larger fan network (ie. the congoers) that are able to see what the pre-screeners mostly watched weeks before the convention. I mean, how else was the "dirtly little secret" that was "Reh-dogg" supposed to come out in public purview? :-) Granted, quickly shoving that concept under the carpet again is probably for the best...*heh*...
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Castor Troy » Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:31 am

It's make the finals or nothing now... :(
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Adv1sor » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:16 pm

VicBond007 wrote:I think AUSA is a pretty cool guy. eh has a dedicated AMV room and doesn't afraid of anything.
AUSA was the first place I saw an AMV and it's always been the best con for AMVs. Just knowing there is a room where you can stop by almost anytime of day or night and see some good AMVs, wow.

We've cut back on the cons, now Otakon is the only one on our schedule. I hate to see them mess up the AMV contest.

But I would like to see the contest moved from a server to a DVD medium. A little worse quality perhaps. (I don't think most people would notice it given the quality of the projectors, screens, and sound system at Otakon. Or maybe it's just the poor way in which it's all set up by those hard working union guys?) Much less chances of technical problems and delays with a DVD, assuming you have a back up DVD and player :)

As for the overflow, the room always seems packed and there are a lot of good AMVs to be seen even if they didn't make the cut!

I'm two for four in making the cut at Otakon, but I've only made it once at AUSA. The two contests, even if ran by the same guy, are on two different levels. (of course, I've never sent the same AMV to more than one contest, whether it made the cut or not!)

Still looking forward to Otakon!
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby SailorDeath » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:31 pm

Adv1sor wrote:AUSA was the first place I saw an AMV and it's always been the best con for AMVs. Just knowing there is a room where you can stop by almost anytime of day or night and see some good AMVs, wow.

We've cut back on the cons, now Otakon is the only one on our schedule. I hate to see them mess up the AMV contest.

But I would like to see the contest moved from a server to a DVD medium. A little worse quality perhaps. (I don't think most people would notice it given the quality of the projectors, screens, and sound system at Otakon. Or maybe it's just the poor way in which it's all set up by those hard working union guys?) Much less chances of technical problems and delays with a DVD, assuming you have a back up DVD and player :)


The problem with using DVD is mostly compatibility. DVD-R/+R/DL manufacturers have varying methods on how they make their dvds. Combine that with a wide array of dvd laser manufacturers there are and you're going to find a lot of issues. The biggest problem I've seen is a DVD working in one player/drive but not for another. For example, with AWA's older pro method of judging when they first started sending DVDs in the mail, people have had issues in their players ranging from choppy video to not working at all. Most conventions also get REALLY CHEAP dvd players, and when I say really cheap I mean $30 bargain wholesale players like this: http://www.amazon.com/Craig-CVD327-DVD- ... B002SDCQJK Cons like doing this because 1. it helps cut costs and 2 its expendable.

Its these off brand players that generally have the most issues with DVDs and it REALLY sucks when you find out at con that the dvd you spent hours putting together is not going to work on that player. Main programming is generally the ONLY place you'll find a higher end player but then that's not always a guarantee.
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby teabo » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:32 pm

Just wanted to chime in and say I've been going to Otakon for 11 years and never noticed it getting worse or more commercial... just bigger and better. Maybe because I'm oblivious to the drama behind the scenes I don't project that onto the con experience.

Also, results of whose going to be in competition aren't available yet... right?
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby SailorDeath » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:37 pm

teabo wrote:Also, results of whose going to be in competition aren't available yet... right?


Correct, We probably won't see the finalists until Otakon is right about to start (maybe not even then given Vic's woes right now.)
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Re: The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

Postby Jefferys » Mon Jul 12, 2010 1:00 pm

Advantages/Disadvantages of a DVD playback system vs. Server playback system

DVD Playback
-------------
Advantages - 1. Hard copy of content for easy playback in DVD system.
2. Useful for backup in case server goes down for some reason.
3. Not prone to server delays in system as playback is local.

Disadvantages - 1. Content is not tweaked for audio/visual setup in whatever venue it is located. |
2. Sound processing may be possible at the venue, but only if there is soundboard setup which can be monitored throughout.
3. Video correction can only be done before the DVD is processed and mastered, so it cannot recompensated for any projector setup (usually "zeroed out" by the technical contractors) at the venue.
4. Playback issues with player itself can cause the DVD not being able to played at all (blame the hardware, blame the DVD mastering application, blame it on crap files, or blame it on all three).

Server Playback
---------------
Advantages - 1. Audio/Video compensation can be done on the fly at the venue.
2. Playback of files can be accessed to rearrange playlist to suit for matters related to scheduling, timing, or instant requests.
3. Useful in case DVD playback is incorrectly mastered for some reason.
Disadvantages - 1. Prone to delay if setup is through a different server.
2. Server isn't available because it can't be accessed at a certain (um...maybe).
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