Animazement 2005 Anime Music Video Contest Guidelines

[Kurai Seraphim]

You'll have to excuse my making a second thread for this, as I thought having editing powers in the top post would come in handy when I get a chance to formally update this thread. I haven't gotten access to updating the Animazement '05 AMV contest page yet, but I can give you a general idea of what it'll say when I do.

This year we're doing things a tiny bit differently.

-In addition to the information presented on the AZ website pertaining to 2004, we're going to try taking online submissions (FTP uploading information will be added here as soon as I can get it / set it up).

-We're going to try to hold the contest to 90 minutes this year, as last year it went for two and a half hours and we nearly fell asleep as a group. This means including the length of your video with your submission and of course keeping in mind that with 90 minutes of convention we won't be taking so many 8 minute videos. I won't discredit longer videos by default, but the goal is to get as many quality videos in as possible, so if you wanna go for a longer video you'd better have something nice.

-We're going to be a little pickier about what makes the contest. I'm actually screening the things, so don't think we'll have a repeat of last year's problems. There will be no rape scenes (accursed Perfect Blue videos...), nor will we have videos that make blatent use of fansubs or Cartoon Network rips (hint: we can tell by the logo in the corner and the presence of fansubs) or videos that look like they were made in Mario Paint. Groups may send in music videos as usual, but if you send in multiple similar videos we're going to cut it down to one simply because watching what feels like the same video repeatedly done by the same people makes everyone want to kill something. Full Metal Gamers beware, you will not get another set of four consecutive fansub Naruto videos in on my watch.

-Just to re-emphasize because it's important, Animazement is a family convention. If we deem something too violent, if it has too much unnecessary nudity, or if it has too much sex (and of course by extension -any- rape) it will be pruned. We're as open minded as the next convention, but I won't allow anything that I'm not comfortable with showing my little cousins in the contest. Use your judgment and all should go fine.

-In years past, AZ has been flexible about deadlines. Really really flexible. Once I myself handed them a tape AT THE CONVENTION. As a college student (from NCSU), I'm aware that the contest deadlines tend to coincide with finals and will work with you if you e-mail me in advance, but as we're trying to hold to 90 minutes its only fair that we respect the people who meet the deadline over the people who, like me, try to get it in the week of the convention. The postage deadline will be in early May, while FTP submissions will be allowed until May 15th, as we'll have to do prescreening and video testing in advance of the con to make sure we don't have video errors at the convention itself. I've had my videos cut or ruined due to technical errors in the past, so I don't want that to be an issue this year. Again, I'm a college student too so I understand how deadlines suck and if you know in advance that you won't be able to make the deadline, contact either me (contact information available through a-m-v.org of course) or e-mail <A HREF="mailto:amv@animazement.org">amv@animazement.org</A>, which I'll hopefully have access to shortly. The FTP submission deadline may be extended depending on how many VHS entries we receive by that deadline, but don't count on it. 90 minutes for an AMV contest isn't as long as it might seem.

-This one's new! Along with your video information, please note if your video would be considered a Drama, a Comedy/Parody, or Energetic/Action. I'm aware that videos don't always fall into even categories, but this is basically a "is your video fast or slow?" question. One of the things that annoys me about contests is the way dramatic videos tend to get shafted because there are so many of them that we're practically asleep after two in a row. This is unfair to whoever the third in that row of dramatic videos is, so I'm going to try to alternate between "fast" and "slow" videos to both keep the audience awake and to make sure all of the dramatic videos get a fair chance. Yes, this is another reason I actually need the buffer time between the deadline and the convention.

Other than this, go by the rules presented on the Animazement '04 Music Video Contest page. To my knowledge the address information hasn't changed.

If you have any more questions, feel free to post them here or e-mail them to me. Like I said, I haven't gotten access to the animazement mailing address just yet, so if you want a speedy reply just IM me (Kurai Seraphim on AOL instant messenger) or e-mail me at my music video address (<A HREF="mailto:kurai_seraphim@hotmail.com">Kurai_Seraphim@hotmail.com</A> with the word "Animazement" in the title to catch my attention. I'll also check this thread at least once a day so long as I have internet access, so post away.

[greenjinjo]

Yay! Finally a contest both I and a video of mine will be at!

[Kurai Seraphim]

Okay, I've gained access to the amv e-mail address now and sent over the information to update the page with, so we can get things rolling now. The FTP is still a little wonky so I'm not posting that information yet, but it will be an option so digital submissions will happen.

If anyone wants to send something in before the FTP is done, you can always IM your file to me if you can catch me some time when I'm online. I'd prefer to do everything through the FTP, but we're already within two months of the deadline so I'm open minded now. My aim name is Kurai Seraphim , so just message me some time when I don't have an away message up.

[Brakus]

-This one's new! Along with your video information, please note if your video would be considered a Drama, a Comedy/Parody, or Energetic/Action. I'm aware that videos don't always fall into even categories, but this is basically a "is your video fast or slow?" question. One of the things that annoys me about contests is the way dramatic videos tend to get shafted because there are so many of them that we're practically asleep after two in a row. This is unfair to whoever the third in that row of dramatic videos is, so I'm going to try to alternate between "fast" and "slow" videos to both keep the audience awake and to make sure all of the dramatic videos get a fair chance.

Just as a suggestion: it's always better to present the videos by genre (as opposed to doing a completely random presentation like at Katsucon), but do your drama videos first, the action videos second, and the comedy videos last. People will sit through everything else to get to the comedy videos.

Also, you can still arrange the videos from fast and slow ones within each genre. Not all drama videos use slow music, and not all action videos use uptempo songs.

[themaan]

I'm still working on a video (points to sigged advertisment) which should be ready before the deadline, expect my submission a little later

[Kurai Seraphim]

FTP is now up, e-mail amv@animazement.org for more submission information!

Also, if your video is stored on the golden donut (which has vastly more upload power than most of us do) and would like to submit it that way, we can make arrangements through e-mail at the above address. I'm trying to make this contest as convenient as possible so that we get a fair share of novice and veterin AMV-ers without the scary submission barrier in the way.

People will sit through everything else to get to the comedy videos.

While they probably would, I don't think it's fair to the drama video creators to have their emotion bender sandwhiched between half an hour of other emotion benders. In my experience people get numb to those things or at the very least they get tired.

I'm screening all of them in advance, so hopefully I'll be able to put them together in a way that is neither boring nor spastically confusing.

[greenjinjo]

I don't think it's fair to the drama video creators to have their emotion bender sandwhiched between half an hour of other emotion benders.

But on the same hand, it might not be fair to sandwhich it between two funny/upbeat videos either.

Just my two cents, back to work on my video

[Kurai Seraphim]

Okay, apparently the person who was SUPPOSED to upload the new rules a few weeks ago still hasn't done it. They won't give me a login to update the main site so I have to put up with this stuff. Oh well, such is life. Here are the rules directly copied from what is supposed to go up on the animazement amv contest page. Please ignore all formatting, as I hope to make this a temp fix rather than the main information page...

Animazement 2005 Music Video Contest
Once again, Animazement is pleased to offer it's anime music video contest! Have you ever felt the need to match those pesky ninja log replacements in Naruto with the log song from Renn and Stimpy? Do you have trouble sleeping at night knowing the world will never see Shinji Ikari getting jiggy with it? Worry no longer! Fire up your video editor of choice, close the blinds and succumb to your temptations because the Animazement Music Video Contest is here!
Just follow these guidelines before sending your entry in:

The maximum length for each video is 8 minutes. Most people will probably start getting bored around 5, so shorter videos are encouraged.

Keep in mind that your video will be viewed by an all-ages audience. Animazement reserves the right to reject videos deemed inappropriate.

Multiple entries are allowed. However, if time constraints prevent us from showing all of the videos we receive, please choose one video to be your primary entry.

Animazement can now accept digital entries! Try to make sure your video is of the highest quality you are capable of. All digital entries will be compressed to MPEG-2 in order to be placed on a DVD. The files may be sent on any disc format. If you wish to submit an online please contact us and arrangements will be attempted. Entries may still be submitted on VHS and SVHS, as well as miniDV and DVCAM.

If you've any questions regarding video compression for digital entry to a contest, please visit www.animemusicvideos.org - there are several guides on there that will help you with output, as well as a forum, should you have any questions. You may also ask us, if you'd like.

While this is an anime music video contest, entries will also be accepted involving video games, Japanese live action movies, and whatnot. If you're not certain whether your video footage is appropriate, feel free to ask.

The deadline for mail-in entries is May 6th. Online submissions will be accepted until May 15th. If you feel you will have trouble making this deadline, contact us and we will try to work something out.

Please send a copy of your video, not an original. We will not be able to return videos to you.

***

Snail Mail Submission Guidelines Please carefully label your tape with your name, e-mail address, and information about the entries on the tape, including song title, artist, and source footage. If you submit digitally, we require information regarding your compressed file, i.e. codec, framerate, and aspect ratio. Also, include a copy of the following form with your tape:

Name:
Mailing Address:
E-mail Address:
For each video you enter, include
Song Title:
Artist:
Source footage:
(Note - If your video contains a variety of sources, please try to name them all)

***

Please send all entries to:

Animazement 2004 Music Video Contest
PO Box 1383
Cary, NC 27512-1383

***

Online Submission Guidelines

If you would like to submit a video through FTP, e-mail amv@animazement.org for address and login information. This way we will have a record of everyone who submits something and have working mailing addresses ready for confirmation. Any number of problems can occur with FTP, so confirmation is worth the delay. You should get a response with FTP information within 24 hours and a second confirmation within 24 hours of uploading your files.

As the contest will be run from a DVD, it would be best for people to submit videos in Mpeg II or Mpeg formats to avoid the risk of doom. The program TmpgEnc is free for personal use and includes DVD templates that follow the Mpeg II standards, so anyone uncertain of what to do should just use that. Use of the various divx, mkv, ogm, wmv and other avi variants is not encouraged, as it would result in the AMV Coordinator converting the video for you. You're best off converting videos to DVD-friendly formats on your own, as then you know exactly what to expect when the contest occurs.

Included with the video should be a simple text file with the following information:

Real Name:
Anime Music Videos.org Name (if applicable):
Mailing Address:
E-mail Address:

Song Title:
Artist:
Source footage:
Genre: Comedy/Action/Drama
Video Format:
Video Duration:
Both the video file and the text file should be named "AZ05 - [Creator's name] - [Video Title]" Include multiple text files for multiple submissions to avoid confusion.

***

You do not have to be present to win, though it's more fun when you're surrounded by adoring fans.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our music video contest coordinator, at amv@animazement.org or check on the forum thread here

[lilyakka]

I think I might give this a try, even tho I won't be able to attend. Sounds like it could be fun, plus my dvds that I ordered just came in W00t.
Gonna start working on my new vid.

[Kurai Seraphim]

Just an update, the mail-in deadline is two weeks from Friday. If you feel you can't make the mail in, we have FTP capabilities. Likewise if you just want to save yourself the hastle, digital submissions are totally fine and even encouraged. E-mail amv@animazement.org to get ftp information. Beyond that if you fill out the form on the website and simply upload your video to the donut I can pull it from there and likewise you can contact me over aim or what have you for submissions using the aim information in my profile here. All I ask is that you also have a txt file with the submission information covered above ready to send with it.

I look forward to seeing more of your videos!