Ushicon4, January 2005

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Ushicon4, January 2005

Postby Driftpeasant » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:30 pm

Okay, it's a new year, a new Ushicon, and as such, new rules for the Anime Music Video Showcase. Please note, before we go any further, that this is a <b>SHOWCASE</b> not a contest. Our goal is to spotlight good music videos, especially from regional creators. Why isn't it a contest, you ask? Well, mainly, Ushicon has a different kind of outlook. We don't judge.

What, then, you ask, do you mean by AMV Showcase? Well, we'll show Anime Music Videos, especially from local creators. There will be no awards, save the warm fuzzy feeling you get from applause. You will also get to show your work to hundreds of con attendees. AMV is one of our two biggest events. It always draws. And we're not a small Con. So you will get fame (if not fortune) from this.

So what are the criteria for admission to the Showcase? Well, first, you have to submit something. Second, we give preference to regional (and by this we mean Central/South Texas) creators. Third, you should follow the guidelines below. We'll show as many videos as time allows. Your video WILL be bumped higher in the queue for admission if you follow the guidelines (see below).

Are there any rules, you ask? Well, not really. They're more like guidelines. <u>First</u>, try to keep it a reasonable length. Submitting a music video to the full version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida will probably not get you in the showcase, unless the video is incredible, or you bribe us. In general, reasonable clocks in at about 5 minutes. <u>Second</u>, try to keep the profanity down. This is an all ages admittance event. While one or two curse words won't get you canned, 2 Live Crew will (well, unless it's a Hentai video, and then see below). <u>Third</u>, please, PLEASE don't use fansubs for your vid stock. It just looks bad. <u>Fourth</u>, the video should be primarily anime. Anime Music Video does NOT mean live action set to anime music. It means anime clips set to music. <u>Fifth</u>, please create some kind of splash screen with the name of the vid, music, and creator. Crediting the anime you use in the vid at the end is nice too. <u>Sixth</u>, and perhaps most important. NO IN THE END BY LINKIN PARK. Not only will we not show these vids, we will publicly mock you at the Showcase for thinking you could do something original with it. Seriously, folks, try and be original. Every Con has those DBZ/Linkin Park vids. We're aiming for a higher standard.

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please email video@ushicon.com. Unless you're trying to increase my package size or refinance my mortgage, I will respond to your email.

Please also note: if you submit something and don't get in, it is NOT a value judgement. We just couldn't fit you in. Sadly, there's a time constraint to the Showcase, and we can't show everyone. We've always strived to show at least one video per creator, and if we didn't show yours, you have our sincere apologies.

Okay, Hentai Music Vids. If you want to submit one, please do. Just realize that it'll get shown at HentaiFest and not at the AMV Showcase. Since traditionally we don't get many of these, if you make one, your chances of getting shown are much higher. Seriously, submit as many of these as you can. There aren't enough HMVs out there.

How to get the video(s) to me (in order of preference):

<u>Electronic Transfer:</u>
If possible, please submit all files in .wmv, .avi, or .mpg format. We can take .mov, but it's a pain to deal with when queuing. Since we here at Ushicon firmly believe that running vids to VHS is a BAD THING, please make our lives easier.

Also, for all electronic submissions, a separate text file containing:

Your Name
City, State, Country (if outside the US)
Music Video Title
Song Used
Anime Used
Any Comments You Might Have

would be nice, ESPECIALLY if your video has no splash page included.

If you have a website with your video available for download, email me the link. In your email include the information stated above (File name, song title, etc.).

I also accept files over AIM. On AIM, I am Driftpeasant.

We will also have FTP access set up for video submission, but given the amount of bandwidth that will suck up, it will be MASSIVELY LIMITED. You'll have to email for access, and you should probably expect a bit of a queue.

<u>Via snail mail:</u>
CD/DVD is definitely preferred. If you must, you CAN submit on VHS, but realize that we'll encode it digitally and it probably won't survive the ransfer well. If on VHS, please separate all vids by 10 seconds of black screen. Please also send a note/file with the above listed information.

Here's the mailing address:

Chase Hoffman
1600 Wickersham, Apt. 3084
Austin, Texas 78741

If you want your cd/tape back, come to the showcase and collect it there or send an SASE with the entry.

The deadline for all entries is January 1, 2005.

See you at Ushicon!
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Note...

Postby Driftpeasant » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:31 pm

This info is all up at the Ushicon website, www.ushicon.com.

Also, if ya'll have any questions/comments, post them here and I'll do my best to respond. If something is seriously out of whack with these guidelines, I'll do my best to amend them to something better.
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Re: Ushicon4, January 2005

Postby mexicanjunior » Thu Jun 10, 2004 10:11 pm

Driftpeasant wrote:Okay, Hentai Music Vids. If you want to submit one, please do. Just realize that it'll get shown at HentaiFest and not at the AMV Showcase. Since traditionally we don't get many of these, if you make one, your chances of getting shown are much higher. Seriously, submit as many of these as you can. There aren't enough HMVs out there.



You'll definitely get what I submitted to A-Kon. :lol:
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Re: Ushicon4, January 2005

Postby Driftpeasant » Thu Jun 10, 2004 10:14 pm

mexicanjunior wrote:You'll definitely get what I submitted to A-Kon. :lol:


I'll make sure I don't eat for a while before the fest... MJ, by consensus of the A-Kon vid staff, You Nasty.
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Postby Machine » Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:25 am

You guys won't have any MPEG2 trouble again like last year will you?

The "Please purchase this MPEG2 codec" message appeared last year on Sophie's computer while the videos were playing and it ruined a few of the entries there :shock:
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Postby Driftpeasant » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:36 pm

Machine wrote:You guys won't have any MPEG2 trouble again like last year will you?

The "Please purchase this MPEG2 codec" message appeared last year on Sophie's computer while the videos were playing and it ruined a few of the entries there :shock:


I had thought that was due to the encoder the creators used not being registered. I do, however, have all the vids from last year on my HD. I'll check them when I get home. Either way, we'll make sure it's fixed before Ushicon.
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Postby dwchang » Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:45 pm

Driftpeasant wrote:
Machine wrote:You guys won't have any MPEG2 trouble again like last year will you?

The "Please purchase this MPEG2 codec" message appeared last year on Sophie's computer while the videos were playing and it ruined a few of the entries there :shock:


I had thought that was due to the encoder the creators used not being registered. I do, however, have all the vids from last year on my HD. I'll check them when I get home. Either way, we'll make sure it's fixed before Ushicon.


No, I am 100% sure it was on the computer end. I personally know some of the people who had that "bumper" on their videos and I can assure you that they did not put it there.

The problem was that the owner of the computer had a software-based MPEG-2 decoder and the trial expired. Whatever company's product he/she was using thus put that logo on to encourage that they register the product.
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Postby Driftpeasant » Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:46 pm

dwchang wrote:No, I am 100% sure it was on the computer end. I personally know some of the people who had that "bumper" on their videos and I can assure you that they did not put it there.

The problem was that the owner of the computer had a software-based MPEG-2 decoder and the trial expired. Whatever company's product he/she was using thus put that logo on to encourage that they register the product.


I stand corrected. I wasn't involved in the AMV Showcase last year, so I'm not entirely sure what happened, but it appears I was misinformed as to the cause of the bumper. We'll make sure it doesn't happen again.
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Postby Driftpeasant » Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:17 pm

Okay, I've viewed all the MPEG-2 vids submitted for Ushicon3 and I'm not having the bumper problem. Since my comp will almost certainly be used for the AMV competition, I feel confident in promising we won't have that problem again.

On behalf of the video staff of Ushicon, I do apologize for any inconvenience last years snafu may have caused.
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Postby Machine » Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:25 pm

Ushicon 2004 is in good hands ^_^ :D
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Postby MarzGurl » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:09 pm

I wanna say thanks to the Ushicon 2004 staff for using my first AMV in the showcase this past year (Final Fantasy VII and Adiemus)! I know it was a lot less exciting than all of the others, but I liked knowing that it was there. I hope my next one works out, too. And it'll be much more exciting, I can guarantee it! Expect an AMV on your doorstep in the coming month or two from me!
<a href="http://marzgurl.cjb.net">Image</a>
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Postby badmartialarts » Fri Jun 25, 2004 6:40 pm

May not be there in person (can never predict where my job sends me), but hopefully a couple of videos of mine will be. And if I am in Texas, I'll make it a mission to be there.
Life's short.
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Uploads

Postby Driftpeasant » Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:53 pm

We're working on getting a 2 Mb/sec FTP site up so ya'll can just upload the vids instead of having to deal with the hassle of burning and mailing them. Cross your fingers that it comes through (well, I am, at least. I don't know anyone else cares... :))

I'll update when/if we have it set up.
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Postby badmartialarts » Mon Jul 12, 2004 5:30 pm

(Loud Howard voice)

I HAVE AN IDEA!

(cough)

I know Ushicon's position on not 'judging the works of fellow artists' and stuff. But, I think there's a way around it, if there is time in Ushicon's schedule:

An Iron Chef competition.

Now, these are tricky to set up...and due to scheduling, there might not be the time for it (as, if I'm not mistaken, you need 4 hours or so for the editing?) Non-AMV enthusiasts might be bored to tears at that stage. Of course, a way around this is to do all the editing off-line, in a 4-hour block, and then just have the presentations of the finished products. I don't know. See what the Ushicon peoples say, Chase, And then I recommend you look to the wisdom of the sages here on how to set one up. Then you'd need some competitors.....

Oh, by the by, I have no interest in competing in such an endeavor, but I do have a paisley suit....if I'm in Texas come Ushicon, I wouldn't mind being the Chairman.....:o
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Postby Driftpeasant » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:33 pm

Okay, from those who've done this before, how long does one of these take? And has anyone ever MC'd one of these before to give Sousaphonist pointers? Would anyone WANT to be in it, for that matter? We're seriously considering it, but it's outside my realm of experience...
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