The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

[VicBond007]

I would rather see the show shoved into a smaller room than see it ran with A/V sync problems.

Don't give up. You always have alternatives. You could just find some empty space on the 4th floor and play Are you A Werewolf right there on the floor Oh, I mean and run the show from a lap top right there on the floor...)

I offered alternatives based on free space that was in the schedule. I was then told that said free space was used for concert setup, even though the concert setups were already on the schedule. Meredith never read the schedule, and her team does not respond to reason or logic. When you have to lie to defend your department's actions, and get away with it, there's no hope.

I'll try to still get a bypass put into Main Events for the Saturday contest, though in the past, Logistics-guy Walt has been a real jerk about it. I may just give them an SVHS tape and go hang out with friends instead of watch a beautiful contest get massacred.

So where can we go to revolt and pummel people with water balloons?

Do whatever you want at this point, but I can't offer any inside information. Whatever you say won't be heard anyways.

Also here's the finalist list. Everything's already fucked up so if Otakon wants to revise this list and crush some more dreams, I don't care any more.

Trailer/Parody
Cousin of Sparda Studios
DiscoVader Productions
EF Film Studios
Blood Sugar Productions

Drama/Serious
Meri & Mike "VegettoEX" LaBrie
Re-Evolution Studios
MycathatesyouAMV
Tech Crew Never Dies Productions
Curry Mutton Pizza Productions
Cyber Ninja Productions

Action
0SimplyAngel0
RiderG
smckevin
irriandin
wingz of silence
Brakus Media

Romance/Sentimental
Oro$hi
Anicsi
s0matic
Sonydjsnmix
Code
Doomimus

Upbeat
Crossfade from AMP Studio
ZaCloud
Sailor Death Productions
Machina21
Corsair
Lawrence Studios

Comedy
Scintilla
Jubjub2
Cyanna
VivifxAMV
@ Productions

Sorry about those of you who didn't get in. There were some really good gems that just couldn't make the cut. Too bad Otakorp thinks Ramen Fighter Miki is more important than you.

[irriadin]

Latest update from Ree after my schedule proposals were shot down with what appeared to be lies, and I called them on it;

There is no reworking of this schedule.

Please understand this. This is what has been decided. Please.

This is how Otakorp handles major issues, with a tribal council and a wave of a wand. Every issue that I first reported on in this thread, is apparently now locked into place without resolution. I fucking give up.

So does this include the A/V sync issues as well? It's unfathomable to me that Otakorp thinks this is OK... A/V sync is EXTREMELY important to AMV's.

[alchemist4]

Oh well maybe the 5th year will be a charm (though you better be back next year Vic! lol)

I hope everything goes smoothly with the finalists and good luck!

[sonicfan74]

dangit o well i knew that amv wouldnt get in. hopefully i can get in next year

[VicBond007]

So does this include the A/V sync issues as well? It's unfathomable to me that Otakorp thinks this is OK... A/V sync is EXTREMELY important to AMV's.

It won't be an issue IF we get a dedicated line, but as Outlawed pointed out, getting union guys to let you change their shit around is like...I can't think of a witty analogy, but it's fucking hard. Hence why running a tape is probably the best bet. ANY VCR will play a tape unless it's broken. DVD-Rs are notorious for breaking up on con equipment. But, you won't get the live audio level adjusting, proper video levels, or equalized audio that the server offers.

[Castor Troy]

Sigh, I just can't seem to win with the big cons this year.

Congrats to the finalists.

[AngelDragoon]

Well, while I am quite happy to see my studio on the names of those who potentially got in, (I stress potentially, *knocks on wood*), reading this entire thread did make it almost bitter sweet.

I have never been to Otakon, due to the fact that I can't afford to drive/fly out that far, but I have friends who have attended, (and who are still attending, even this year), and have spoken highly on how big this contest is, particularly in popularity. It baffles the mind as to why they would begin treating such an event, which is almost as popular as the masquerade or concerts going on, as some have stated before, so poorly. Granted, it is likely they don't understand what is required to run a decent showing, but it's as if they aren't even trying. Especially with the repetitive use of 'Please' in that last statement.

And then I read this:

Sorry about those of you who didn't get in. There were some really good gems that just couldn't make the cut. Too bad Otakorp thinks Ramen Fighter Miki is more important than you.

Seriously? I couldn't even get past the first episode. Then again, others may enjoy this type of comedy, but that's beside the point. It is clear what is truly running the show. "Can't have capitalism without capital! " As sad as it is, and even if this is a convention for fans, it is no surprise that they would cater to the ones who have the money. It's basically, 'Amv contest=giving money for awards and prizes' vs. 'Getting paid by companies to show their wares', (unless I'm getting Otakon's business practices completely backwards, to which I apologize and have yet to see any reason as to why they are doing what they are doing, other than being power-hungry higher ups who like holding their events/events they like over everything else).

While I support written disappointment of these practices, I don't think writing anything now will get anything done except inform that the public knows what they're doing and potentially blame the people running the AMV contest for leaking said information, (ie. rewrite saying it was 'lies and slander!', which could be debated back and forth with written confirmation, but it's a full circle of problems and headaches). Now, granted, some might be okay with this, but my honest opinion would be to wait and actually write saying how you disliked how the AMV contest was set up comparatively to years prior, (A/V sync problems, color problems, etc., etc....), not blaming the AMV contest itself, but the rooms and set up they were obviously forced to have. Indirectly hitting them where it hurts, so to speak.

Just my two-cents. I appreciate you sticking to your guns, though, Vic, and I hope this gets settled much better in the future.

EDIT: Also, congrats to everyone as well! Hope all goes well out there, despite all the hoopla.

[irriadin]

Action
irriandin

I'm super-happy about making it in, but I wish the contest were, well, not effed up. Still, congrats to all participants!

Also... Vic, can you fix my name please?

[VicBond007]

Action
irriandin

I'm super-happy about making it in, but I wish the contest were, well, not effed up. Still, congrats to all participants!

Also... Vic, can you fix my name please?

Don't worry it's not a typo in the contest. I pulled that data straight from the submission forms. That's just me fatfinger typing the list :3

[Gaelstrom]

Just out of curiosity, is Otakon legally obliged to follow the demands of members somehow? I mean it's a non-profit, correct? If things do somehow just start going in a direction that is completely ass-backwards as things seem to be going with the scheduling and potential derailing of fan-based focus, is there nothing we can do as the people who pay the bills and as 'members' as was stated before to have a say in what the focus should be? Anime Expo was one of the most disjointed experiences I ever had as a fan, because one hallway felt like Otakon, another felt like a corporate waiting room, and the whole scenario was just uninviting. The salvage of course was seeing the Haruhi concert, but still, the whole thing felt very strange.

I'm all for finding ways to guarantee some kind of checks and balances system to make sure someone oversees the focal point of the con with a single, defined goal, like 'The fans will enjoy their culture" or something, that the Council of Shadows on Otakon must adhere to based on fan votes. I mean I may just be overstepping but... this is technically our con, isn't it? Seeing VicBond007, whose videos inspired me quite a bit, get this dejected is nothing short of a travesty.

I'll look objectively this year, of course. Change isn't always a bad thing and must be handled with an open mind, but still, there must be a bigger picture observation going on to guarantee quality assurance.