Anime Expo 2010 Anime Music Video Contest Rules Up

[XStylus]

i'm kinda sad to see Pro head for the gallows

I don't think Pro should go away. I just think it needs to be reduced to three, and there needs to be a better method of judging for detail.

[Niotex]

AMTV-Pro is a stellar category if stuck to it's actual description. I think you should look at that rather then using it as a dumping ground or renaming it to 'other'.

[Rider4Z]

i'm kinda sad to see Pro head for the gallows

I don't think Pro should go away. I just think it needs to be reduced to three, and there needs to be a better method of judging for detail.

that could work too. altho i fear some people may not appreciate winning in that category if they only had to beat 2 other people. i could be wrong.

[Radical_Yue]

I personally LOVED the "Live" video. I love the song, I love the way it the anime was edited to go with it. I was as shocked as the rest of you that it didn't make the finals. There are a couple of shockers.

I suspect part of it is that the judges aren't familiar with the song and its message. I personally am a big Nikki Sixx/Motley Crue/Sixx AM fan and am familiar with the Heroin Diaries the song was written for.

I saw it was a celebration of life and to remember , as the song says, that life is beautiful. I even made that argument when a few of the judges looked at me and were like WTF? Xstylus can back me on this one he was there.

This is an excellent example as to why the judging needs to be changed. I've heard from xstylus that you have anywhere from 10-15 people judging and most of them are just friends/anime fans?
I've said it before, if you have too many people judging that don't really know AMVs but merely like them it becomes an uphill battle. While the actual people who know editing see a video and say "Holy crap! Look at all the work that went into this! This NEEDS to be a finalist!" the majority is sitting there saying "It was good, but I don't like the anime. NEXT VIDEO!"

Also, I'll say it once more.

The audience will ALWAYS find something to be entertained by. ALWAYS.

A competition is NOT about entertaining the audience

com·pe·ti·tion -
1. The act of competing, as for profit or a prize; rivalry.
2. A test of skill or ability; a contest: a skating competition.
3. Rivalry between two or more businesses striving for the same customer or market.
4. A competitor: The competition has cornered the market.

Nowhere in the actual definition do I see anything about making people all happy inside because they saw their favoritest anime character dancing to Lady Gaga songs.

If it's got mainstream sources and it's an excellent video. LET IT IN.
It's it got sources no one has heard about and it's an excellent video. LET IT IN.
A contest is about pitting the best of the best against each other. Not making excellent editors sacrifice their integrity and edit something that is beneath them just in hopes of seeing it on screen.

How are people ever going to expand their horizons if they're watching the exact same thing over and over again? I discovered so many different series and artists via AMV competitions.

Take a chance already and put on an excellent show!

[DigitalPanther]

Very valid points Yue.

The idea is to bring in judges who know the details as well as a few who know nothing to get the "clueless factor" to help cover the mass appeal portion. this year the "clueless" contingent outnumbered the those who know what is involved. I hope to fix that balance next year.

The thing about running an AMV contest is that it is constantly a balancing act. Every year we look at what works and what didn't and trying to refine accordingly. This year I have already got a small list of things I need to balance building. After con we will assess it all and make adjustments as best I can.

-DP

[milkmandan]

This is an excellent example as to why the judging needs to be changed. I've heard from xstylus that you have anywhere from 10-15 people judging and most of them are just friends/anime fans?
I've said it before, if you have too many people judging that don't really know AMVs but merely like them it becomes an uphill battle. While the actual people who know editing see a video and say "Holy crap! Look at all the work that went into this! This NEEDS to be a finalist!" the majority is sitting there saying "It was good, but I don't like the anime. NEXT VIDEO!"

While I don't think this is the exact case and I don't think the judges are clueless. But you do have a point as this situation is not impossible. You do need a mixture I think.
Yeah as michael said, balance is needed, though I didn't expect the clueless to over-number those involved.

AMTV-Pro is a stellar category if stuck to it's actual description. I think you should look at that rather then using it as a dumping ground or renaming it to 'other'.

^ this. i agree too. Pro is a great category. but yeah, the rules could be defined a little more. But meh, its nothing killer at this point.

You're really digging me a hole here, Ben. ^^;;;

If the kind of timing and effects you're looking for are blatantly flashy like a Nostromo vid, then yeah.

But then there's vids that are more subtle and meticulous... ...so much so that they require repeated viewing to fully appreciate. And its those vids that, I feel, we need to adjust our judging process to fully allow for. Such vids have been rather rare though.

Ha~! Sorry Troy
Yeah I think Nic's "building steam" video is a perfect example of such said video type. (at least for me) I loved his video this year. And i am sure through multiple viewings, it would be more enjoyable. (at least for me).

But yeah, such said videos are more 'rare'.
My brother and I held a special award back in 2008? (i think) for people who DID make such a video. Michael should remember, the "Out on a Limb" award. Nic won it that year too.

Please don't take this the wrong way and I understand this may work for some people, but I would like to stress that just because videos make it in as finalists does not mean they are superior nor better and must be learned from. Granted, I agree watching videos in contest to see what people have done can be a good learning tool, but don’t make it sound like those that don't make it in need a lesson from those who did or are superior... If your going to say it like that maybe then you should teach me on how to make better videos too.

Oh no problem Vlad absolutely not, you are correct, there are the exceptions to the case. Many in each in fact.
Castroy Troy's videos are a great example in this situation. (At least I think so...)
Again, my advice was directed to the people who are a part of the masses (who may NOT be posting here, but just reading). The masses who just pick a song, slap in random footage on-top and submit (comon, we've all seen this before, just go across youtube and you'll find hundreds of those). WE ALL KNOW there are those kinds of submissions, and I am merely speaking to and 'for' them.

I'm having a hard time keeping my calm with someone telling me this. I would kindly like to inform you that you are completely off course. I'll leave it at that..

No that seemed pretty directed to me.

I think you need to update your category definitions then. And not have AMTV-Pro stand for 'Best Nostromo imitation'. Art for the sake of art aside. The fact remains that a category that was deemed specifically for technically advanced video's with a professional level of composting. Not to mention a very heavy emphasis on art. Get's shafted and ends up becoming 'what the mainstream likes'.

There is so much wrong with this statement..

Take it what for what it is Niotex, as I am not here to start something. If you can't read past something and you take the wrong stance, I apologize but that is a personal problem. I can't help you with that. As I've already explained, the comment was merely directed for the masses and the people who slap any anime they like, over song (as i said in Vlad's response, there are thousands of those, and YES without a doubt i am sure some people try to submit those as well). If you don't just slap any anime over song, then feel happy that my advice does not apply to you.

i'm kinda sad to see Pro head for the gallows

I don't think Pro should go away. I just think it needs to be reduced to three, and there needs to be a better method of judging for detail.

that could work too. altho i fear some people may not appreciate winning in that category if they only had to beat 2 other people. i could be wrong.

Well if that is the case then getting to be one of the 3 would be a 'great' honor then

[Radical_Yue]

Very valid points Yue.

The idea is to bring in judges who know the details as well as a few who know nothing to get the "clueless factor" to help cover the mass appeal portion. this year the "clueless" contingent outnumbered the those who know what is involved. I hope to fix that balance next year.

The thing about running an AMV contest is that it is constantly a balancing act. Every year we look at what works and what didn't and trying to refine accordingly. This year I have already got a small list of things I need to balance building. After con we will assess it all and make adjustments as best I can.

-DP

The solution is actually quite simple. Reduce the judging pool to about 5 people with at least 3 of those people who are up to date on technical know-how and AMVs. This will give you a good balance for the "fun factor" and professionalism. And I highly recommend contacting the A-kon staff to get their overview on how they judge their contest. They're efficient and they work quite well.
Also, get some people to due pre-screening. Sitting people down in a room for hours on end watching AMVs is not intelligent nor is it healthy.
If you can first get a group of people to weed out the obvious "No-No" videos this will reduce the stress on the judges and make it easier to plan multiple video watching occasions.

This is an excellent example as to why the judging needs to be changed. I've heard from xstylus that you have anywhere from 10-15 people judging and most of them are just friends/anime fans?
I've said it before, if you have too many people judging that don't really know AMVs but merely like them it becomes an uphill battle. While the actual people who know editing see a video and say "Holy crap! Look at all the work that went into this! This NEEDS to be a finalist!" the majority is sitting there saying "It was good, but I don't like the anime. NEXT VIDEO!"

While I don't think this is the exact case and I don't think the judges are clueless. But you do have a point as this situation is not impossible. You do need a mixture I think.
Yeah as michael said, balance is needed, though I didn't expect the clueless to over-number those involved.

Work with the public long enough and you'll learn that the clueless always outnumber those who know what's going on.

EDIT: Heres a good example. At my job, I take calls for Verizon Wireless customer service. 1/5 customers that call in know what the "#" sign is. Most have to double check and ask if it's "the weird looking H on my number pad"

[milkmandan]

EDIT: Heres a good example. At my job, I take calls for Verizon Wireless customer service. 1/5 customers that call in know what the "#" sign is. Most have to double check and ask if it's "the weird looking H on my number pad"

OH the JOYS of customer service
Lady Calls Tech Support Over Pac Man Google Logo: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1937058

[Scintilla]

i'm even more pleased to have finally made drama.

I don't know if you even intended this, but I personally found this pun hilarious.

[milkmandan]

i'm even more pleased to have finally made drama.

I don't know if you even intended this, but I personally found this pun hilarious.

dude , instant classic
btw grats scintilla on your video! i am VERY Looking forward to it!