Request for help with contest rules

thecleric007 · Post by **thecleric007** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:48 am

Hi. Some of you may remember that I run the AMV contest for the Animaritime Convention.

Anyway, last year there was a few issues with the rules, so in hope of avoid that, I was wondering if I could have some suggestions for changes, before I officially start this year's contest.

So, here are the original rules that I came up with (I think they aren't too bad, for someone with no experience about AMV contests)

Anime Music Videos Contest Rules:

1. Videos must be either .avi or .wmv files. If you are unable to submit in this file type, please get in touch with the contest director at thecleric007@hotmail.com

2. Video entries must be mailed to the contest director at: this address:

Vicki Martin
Mt Allison University
152 Main St, Unit 1943
Sackville, NB, Canada
E4L 1B3

Videos may be collected at the convention by the entrants. Otherwise, they will not be returned.

3. All entries must be postmarked no later than Friday March 12, 2004. The club does not take responsibility for any videos that do not arrive in time for the convention,

4. Entries must include the following information: name of entrant, email, title(s) of anime(s) used, spoiler warnings, studio (if applicable), and any other information about the video deemed necessary by the entrant.

5. Winners will be announced at the convention, and on the website, on Sunday, March 21, 2004.

6. Entries will be judged in the following categories: choice of song, choice of clips, quality of clips and sound, unity and originality. Extra marks may be awarded for use of effects and lip syncing.

Once again, if you have any questions at all, feel free to email me at the address listed in the rules.

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Rule number one seems to have had the most issues. I realized right away that I should have put .mpg on the list too. I also think that a good addition would be asking for codecs to be included with the video, to insure that the computers used in judging and displaying the AMVs can actually run them.

I also know that I need to include that they must be submitted on CD in rule #2, and that #6 should state who is judging them.

Last year was the first time the Animaritime convention had been run, so we honestly didn't know entirely what we were doing. But after a fairly successful first year, we are really looking forward to Animaritime 2005, and hope to improve it in many ways.

So, any suggestions for improving the rules would be welcomed with open arms ^_^

The contest won't be officially starting until September at least (since I'm not at university right now, and thus cannot collect anything being sent to the given address), so there is a month available to get the rules all set up nicely.

Thanks in advance.

The Cleric 007

AquaSky · Post by **AquaSky** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:21 am

My suggestions would be :

Rule 2 - You might want to consider adding DVD as a method of submitting the videos. DVDs offer a great deal more storage capacity than CDs.

Rule 4 - You could also ask for the title of the video and the names of the song and musical artist.

Rule 6 - The way this one is worded could give people the impression that you'll be judging based on how much you like or dislike the particular song/anime itself. Rather than "choice of clips" and "choice of song", you could substitute something like "Flow" or "Story" (although I think that's what you had in mind with "unity").
Also, the bit about giving extra points for effects and lip sync could potentially get you a whole lot of videos with those things thrown in hastily and sloppily in an attempt to garner more points. If you are indeed giving bonuses for those type of things, you might want to pull it from the public and keep it among the judges. I'd recommend also giving credit for originality, and making that what you post on the rules page.

Anyway, those would be the suggestions I would offer. Hope it's helpful to you.

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:48 am

IcyCloud wrote:Also, the bit about giving extra points for effects and lip sync could potentially get you a whole lot of videos with those things thrown in hastily and sloppily in an attempt to garner more points.

Example: <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... 7794">It's tricky to use effects and lip sync well</a>.

Anyway, you might want to consider min/max time limits. And is there any reason you can't take submissions in MPEG-1 or -2?

thecleric007 · Post by **thecleric007** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 2:30 pm

Rule 2 - You might want to consider adding DVD as a method of submitting the videos. DVDs offer a great deal more storage capacity than CDs.

Ok, I will consider this. The only problem would be insuring that we have a DVD player available for showing the AMVs. My computer has a DVD-ROM, but as it is a desktop, does not really work when it comes to being used for the convention.

If possible though, I will definitely put DVDs down as an option...sadly I won't know if that is a possibility until September when the club meets again.

Rule 4 - You could also ask for the title of the video and the names of the song and musical artist.

KK, sounds good ^_^

Rule 6 - The way this one is worded could give people the impression that you'll be judging based on how much you like or dislike the particular song/anime itself. Rather than "choice of clips" and "choice of song", you could substitute something like "Flow" or "Story" (although I think that's what you had in mind with "unity").

Also, the bit about giving extra points for effects and lip sync could potentially get you a whole lot of videos with those things thrown in hastily and sloppily in an attempt to garner more points. If you are indeed giving bonuses for those type of things, you might want to pull it from the public and keep it among the judges. I'd recommend also giving credit for originality, and making that what you post on the rules page.

I definitely do think some changes do have to be made to how the videos are judged. Last year the video that I think may have been the best did lose due to not having the special effects and such things.

Also, choice of clips and song had more to do with their appropriateness (did they fit well together, was the song a good choice for the particular anime...we made sure to research any anime serieses we didn't know well). A change in the wording would probably be helpful in getting that point across ^_^

Anyway, those would be the suggestions I would offer. Hope it's helpful to you.

Thank you very much, this was a big help. I would never have thought about such things, especially the wording one, because I know what I mean when I wrote the rules, but other people may not get the same impression.

Example: It's tricky to use effects and lip sync well.

This is why I wanted to award extra points, for videos where the creator took the time and energy to put in effects. I don't think I will be taking extras away, but I will probably be changing how they work.

AMVs that didn't use the effects well would most likely not get much in the way of extra points.

Anyway, you might want to consider min/max time limits.

A minimum may be good, because I don't think many vids that are under a minute are really that good, though I'm sure there are some. As far as a max goes, I don't think it really matters. If you can keep the AMV interesting for longer than 3-4 minutes, power to you. This is what the whole "unity" is about, whether the vid keeps the same intensity all the way through, of if is, like so many other AMVs, loses some by the time it is over.

And is there any reason you can't take submissions in MPEG-1 or -2?

Um...are those different from .mpg? Because I already said I needed to add those to the list of formats...I just kinda forgot about it when the rules were originally made, because most of the AMVs I have seen were either .wmv or .avi

Thank you both for your help, I will start making the revised version of the rules when I get home from work ^_^

The Cleric 007

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 4:46 pm

thecleric007 wrote:
And is there any reason you can't take submissions in MPEG-1 or -2?
Um...are those different from .mpg? Because I already said I needed to add those to the list of formats...I just kinda forgot about it when the rules were originally made, because most of the AMVs I have seen were either .wmv or .avi

Oh sorry, didn't see that. My mistake. Yeah, they're the same thing.

DrngdKreationz · Post by **DrngdKreationz** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:04 pm

oooh a con that has an AMV contest that is bringing back the technical category. by using "extras for scoring".. if the "effects" part of the community improve and you guys get used to running a convention this might turn into one of the more competetive cons out there.

but make sure the people judging the con have the skill level needed to judge things like that accordingly.

As long as its not like playing those BMX/Tony hawkish games where its like
<Great lens flare!> +40
<Superb strobe light!>+ 100 Ended off beat (points wiped out

)

Laterz

thecleric007 · Post by **thecleric007** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:26 pm

Any extras for effects will be earned, and would not be more than a few more points to their total score.

The Cleric 007

thecleric007 · Post by **thecleric007** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:33 pm

Ok, first I'd like to thank everyone who helped me out making the rules. Here is the final list I have come up with (which also now has it's own thread, btw)

Anime Music Videos Contest Rules:

1. Videos must be either .avi, .mpg or .wmv files. Please include any codecs used with your submission, to ensure that we shall be able to open the file.

2. Videos and codecs may be sent in on either a CD or a DVD.

3. Video entries must be mailed to the contest director at: this address:

Vicki Martin
Mt Allison University
152 Main St, Unit 1943
Sackville, NB, Canada
E4L 1B3

Videos may be collected at the convention by the entrants. Otherwise, they will not be returned.

4. All entries must have been received no later than Friday, February 18, 2005. The club does not take responsibility for any videos that arrive late.

5. Entries must include the following information: name of entrant, email, title(s) of anime(s) used, spoiler warnings, song name and artist, studio (if applicable) and the title of the video. Note: please do not put any personal information in the video itself, to ensure that the judging can take place in an unbiased environment.

6. Winners will be announced at the convention during the convention, exact date TBA.

7. Entries will be judged in the following categories: song choice, use of clips, quality, unity and originality. Extra marks may be awarded for use of effects and lip syncing, if used effectively. A panel of club members will be in charge of the judging.

8. The prize for first place shall can be either picked up by the video creator at the convention or will be mailed to them at the club’s expense.

9. If you have any questions about the contest, please email the Contest Director at:
amv@animaritime.mtaanime.org

Thank you again everyone, you have been an incredible help.

The Cleric 007