Announcement: A-Kon Video Contest and Events Reborn

[Elgebar]

I am pleased to announce that we are officially unveiling a new website dedicated to the new video contest rules, submission, and awards process. We have spent the last 4 months completely rebuilding the video events and contests. Starting in 2006, we will be completely throwing out the previous contest system in favor of a system that has been inspired and driven by both the fans and the video creators. In my opinion, this rework of the video events has been long due and I am both very proud and excited about what we have accomplished.

For A-Kon 17 we are offering the following five events for video creators:

Judged Events

• Amateur Anime Music Video Contest - This event is our standard music video contest and is open to all fans who wish to contribute a submission.

• Experts Anime Music Video Contest - This event is an adaptation on the standard music video contests designed to cater to professional and elite music video creators. Fans who wish to contribute to this event must meet a set of qualifying requirements.

• Anime-inspired Fanworks Contest - This event is a completely new idea and is designed for fans that enjoy making videos, but would like to expand beyond the realm of anime music videos.

• Hentai Anime Music Video Contest - This event is for fans over the age of 18 who wish to create music videos with extremely adult themes. It will be aired at the beginning of the traditional “H”-fest and all creators and viewers must be at least 18 years of age and will be required to provide a picture ID with proof of age to gain access to the event.

Non-judged Events

• Anime Music Video Showcase - This event is an adaptation of the previous year’s concept of a music video showcase and is tailored to fans who wish to show their work outside of a competitive environment.

You can check the details at: http://vse.a-kon.com

Also included on this website will be new tools and features for creators such as electronic upload information, feedback tools, entry status, confirmation tools, online contest distribution, and an online submission form.

As always, I welcome any comments and/or feedback you wish to give.

[Scintilla]

Amateur Anime Music Video Contest - This event is our standard music video contest and is open to all fans who wish to contribute a submission.

I know someone's going to complain about this, so let me do it first: the vast majority of editors here are amateurs, as we don't do this for money, so perhaps a more fitting name (as well as one that's less likely to turn off potential audience members?) might be in order.

[rubyeye]

We put a lot of work into re-structuring all the Video Event Contests. There is quite a bit of information to go through, but it's all fairly straight forward (just be sure to read the "fine print"). Please feel free to post your impressions, comments, or questions.

It is our hope that creators who lost interest in Project A-kon's AMV contests of the past will give it another try. Starting in 2006, everything is completely brand new!

[Pwolf]

Amateur Anime Music Video Contest - This event is our standard music video contest and is open to all fans who wish to contribute a submission.

I know someone's going to complain about this, so let me do it first: the vast majority of editors here are amateurs, as we don't do this for money, so perhaps a more fitting name (as well as one that's less likely to turn off potential audience members?) might be in order.

how about "novice"?


Pwolf

[mexicanjunior]

We put a lot of work into re-structuring all the Video Event Contests. There is quite a bit of information to go through, but it's all fairly straight forward (just be sure to read the "fine print"). Please feel free to post your impressions, comments, or questions.

It is our hope that creators who lost interest in Project A-kon's AMV contests of the past will give it another try. Starting in 2006, everything is completely brand new!

The new setup certainly got my interest, I hope to have something for you guys...

[Castor Troy]

Can't wait to enter, although I doubt I can make it to akon next year.

Looks very promising and I hope you guys have a good competition

[rubyeye]

Amateur Anime Music Video Contest - This event is our standard music video contest and is open to all fans who wish to contribute a submission.

I know someone's going to complain about this, so let me do it first: the vast majority of editors here are amateurs, as we don't do this for money, so perhaps a more fitting name (as well as one that's less likely to turn off potential audience members?) might be in order.

I don't understand what anyone has to "complain" about. If you're an "amateur", then you know this contest is designed for you. The Experts AMV Contest was specifically made for the more experienced "veteran" editors who have been doing this for years, and have "proven" their skills (as required for entry into this contest).

The reason in breaking up the AMV contest into two "classes" was to hopefully improve the quality of entries we receive by specifically catering to the more (dare I say) "elite" members of the AMV community, while still offering a general contest for anyone who wished to enter.

Prizes and Judging are virtually indentical for both events.

[Elgebar]

[snip] the vast majority of editors here are amateurs, as we don't do this for money, so perhaps a more fitting name (as well as one that's less likely to turn off potential audience members?) might be in order.

We had a great deal of deliberation about the contest names and this was the one we felt was the most appropriate. In my opinion, I do not think Amateur has a negative connotation at all. Most of us do these things as a hobby vs. a profession. Since no professionals are allowed in the Amateur contest we felt the name was as fitting as it could be. Our other choice was to just call it the "Anime Music Video Contest", but in our discussions we felt that that was too general and vague and did not clearly state the intent of the contest. Additionally, it was our wish to create a significant divergence from the previous year's contest.

how about "novice"?

Thanks for the suggestion Pwolf, but I think that calling the contest a "Novice" contest has exactly the effect that Scintilla is trying to avoid. Novice to me indicates that someone has a beginner's skill level, and while not everyone here has won a contest or done professional work, I would argue that many are not novices at all. Some of the work I have seen come out of this community has been most impressive and certainly not the work of a novice.

The new setup certainly got my interest, I hope to have something for you guys...

Can't wait to enter, although I doubt I can make it to akon next year.

Looks very promising and I hope you guys have a good competition

Castor Troy and MJ, thanks for the positive feedback. I always enjoy your work and look forward to some great stuff from you two.