AWA pro thoughts/followups?

[drewaconclusion]

As for Akross, it's just an online contest. I would always prefer to make something for a contest whose winners are premiered live in front of an actual audience.

THIS a thousand times over.

[jingoro]

As for Akross, it's just an online contest. I would always prefer to make something for a contest whose winners are premiered live in front of an actual audience.

THIS a thousand times over.

Three hours in main, and a 24 hour room. Who loves ya, baby?

[Copycat_Revolver]

[Oh whatever, I'm posting this. Take it as you will.]

You know what, as far as the exclusivity argument goes, this contest is losing the one thing that makes it special if we at the very least don't strongly encourage new videos. And I'm not putting this on the coordinators solely. I think that if we really want this contest to be what it used to, then we, as editors, need to take charge of this editor judged contest. Yes, that means you, jerk face. We need to contribute original videos, we need to encourage other editors to do the same, and we need to shame the people who just throw in the same tired videos they've already sent to every con in existence.
That's what Expo is for anyway.

And the concern for less entries is misguided. Here are a couple of specific examples since people here are tending toward vague soothsaying of the future:
Spoiler alert, but Ileia didn't enter this year. Do you want to know why? Well, the main reason is she just doesn't care enough about Pro because it's just turning into a generic contest full of stuff she's already seen a thousand times before. In her own words, Awa used to be like AMV Christmas. So the refusal to make it an exclusive contest has already scared away someone who has consistently sent in quality work in years past.
And not just her. Is anyone else here aware that Radical_Yue is boycotting the contest until is becomes exclusive? The important thing to remember here is that Yue has a real enthusiasm for these sort of things, and when she feels strongly about a contest (i.e. NDK and AnimeExpo), she encourages every person on the face of the earth to enter that contest. She is a rallying cry and losing her is losing a great number of other potential entries.

I'm willing to give a pass this year. There are a lot of unfortunate factors that can't really be avoided at this point. So if you didn't realize this was supposed to be an exclusive event, then that's okay because you know now. And I'm not trying to guilt the coordinators in any way because when it comes right down to it, Pro is for the editors, pure and simple.
We send the videos, we pick the categories, and we pick who deserves to win.
So I propose a union. I want every one of you to come back here next year with your A game.
I have a dream. A dream that next year we'll have spread the word about the glory of Pro well in advance of the deadline and we'll have a strong crop of new, interesting videos to choose from. We can have a good Pro viewing party again. And if someone submits a video that has shamelessly been trolled to every other convention all year, then we will rise as a group like an avenging typhoon and smite them. We will not vote for them and we will bring prestige back to this contest. And then there will be trumpets and streamers and sparkling cartwheels through the sky.

So let's stop squabbling about this. Do you want this to be an exclusive contest? Would that make you feel good about this contest again? Are you new and just want to see what this contest used to be like?
Then band with me. We can all join hands and swear upon the almighty AMV god that next year will be different.

And if you don't want that. If you don't care enough and never will, then fine. That's up to you. But this contest is ours to do with what we want (within reason).

So no matter what anyone else says, here's my personal decree: Next year I am going to submit two (2) brand new videos to the Pro contest. They will not have debuted anywhere else in the world before this contest. They will have genuine effort put into them. I will also submit a Master's video. And anything else I've got, well that can go to Expo.
In addition, I will research all the other entries into Pro and if I can determine that they have already debuted at other contests or otherwise don't meet my standards for exclusivity (I'm willing to be somewhat lenient) then I will not vote for them in any category whatsoever. Only exclusive videos are going to get a vote from me.
Not only that, I am going to shout it from the rooftops months beforehand to anyone that will listen to enter a new video in pro. Hell, I don't even care if it's good, I just want it to be new.
So there. That is my word and I'm sticking to it. Anybody else?


As for this year, I'm giving everyone a free pass, even the trolls. But watch your backs...

Also, let it be known that I love AWA and want good things for it.

[l33tmeatwad]

I'm down for exclusive if enough people can be rallied up to make it interesting...that said, I'd rather watch good videos from previous contests than crappy new ones, so that's why I have mixed emotions about it.

[Rider4Z]

omg so much enthusiasm!

[jingoro]

Spoiler alert, but Ileia didn't enter this year. Do you want to know why? Well, the main reason is she just doesn't care enough about Pro because it's just turning into a generic contest full of stuff she's already seen a thousand times before. In her own words, Awa used to be like AMV Christmas. So the refusal to make it an exclusive contest has already scared away someone who has consistently sent in quality work in years past.
And not just her. Is anyone else here aware that Radical_Yue is boycotting the contest until is becomes exclusive?

If people are boycotting my contests, it would be nice if they told me so I could address their concerns.

Pro has never been an exclusive contest. Pro was created as a contest for those who wanted to be peer-judged instead of staff-judged. This is your chance, among other things, to sound off on all those videos that either by staff or audience vote may have received their accolades or been overlooked in other contests.

I think, and yes, I am seriously considering your opinion, that making the contest exclusive to new content will diminish the value of the award in that respect. In that good videos couldn't compete for the sole reason that their creator would rather have their hard work exhibited in a variety of venues, rather than keep it under wraps.

Please remember that the end-product of this process, aside from your trophy, is an awards show for hundreds of AMV fans who might not have seen content at all these other conventions. They don't know a video was sent around for a year, they just know it was a good video, and are glad for the opportunity to see it on a huge screen with hundreds of their friends.

Please, enjoy the videos for what they are, not where they've been. Your audience does.

This is just my reasoning so far, not a fiat or an attempt to end this discussion. I have always said that I never want to give anyone a reason not to send in their video. We are what we are because you are out there editing and submitting. If good content is kept away, it hurts our program and through this hurts the community at large. If anyone wishes to discuss this further, you know where I'll be in two weeks.

[Copycat_Revolver]

I agree that it would be nice that the people out there who have issues with the contest, enough so to not enter, were more vocal to the right people about that fact. It's been a bit infuriating for me to hear these sort of things, to be honest.

And I do agree with you on many points. My opinions of the contest are mostly derived from what the contest has grown to mean to me. I absolutely agree that quality is important, and although I may bluster loudly about it, I am actually more in favor of mostly-exclusive as opposed to full exclusive. I just feel that the only way to swing that pendulum in the right direction is to make Awa Pro more of a target for new works.

[Copycat_Revolver]

I'm down for exclusive if enough people can be rallied up to make it interesting...that said, I'd rather watch good videos from previous contests than crappy new ones, so that's why I have mixed emotions about it.

So you'd rather watch a few hours worth of videos you've already seen than a huge bounty of never before seen videos for which you are one of the few chosen to witness them first?
Quality isn't as much an issue as you might think. Bring in the good editors and you get good videos. Besides, Expo is full of those sort of videos.

And for that matter, man up and throw your hat in. Will you pledge to send something new in next year? Come on now, enrich the contest.

[SailorDeath]

On a side note, I'm going to be cosplaying an amish at AWA this year.

[BasharOfTheAges]

To be honest, I never submitted to pro before because I didn't have anything new to put in. Rule or not, It felt like a bad idea, and a sure fire way to be shunned. I certainly wouldn't want to show my face around the con after doing that.

More on point, though.... can has finals? :puppy eyes: