How exactly do you start an AMV contest for a con?

angelx03 · Post by **angelx03** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:59 pm

Here's the thing, the RIT Anime Club is going to hold their 2nd annual Tora-con around this late April. They said they want to host their own AMV contest in their con this year, but they said they need at least 15 submissions in order to formally start one (they said it has to be on a CD/DVD via "snail-mail" since they're having some issues with their FTP server).

I understand there needs to be some starting ground thus them saying they need those many submissions. The thing that sort of bothers me is they didn't set up any preliminary rules like file format type, catagory groups, and so forth. I guess my first question is how do you start a contest so more people can enter it?

genestarwind21122 · Post by **genestarwind21122** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:37 pm

Well the easiest formats to use are MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Formats. I would have to say look at other convention rules and see how their rules are set up and modify them to what you think is acceptable. Some accept any age submission, some except only recent, and others non-premiered. It's up to you. Good luck with setting it up though.

Gene Starwind 21122

angelx03 · Post by **angelx03** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:11 am

Not exactly what I have in mind, but thanks; I keep that in the back of my mind. I guess my second question is whether the anime club who want at least 15 AMV submissions right off the bat is an acceptable way to start a contest. They don't have official rules set up. Heck, they don't even have preliminary rules set up so I have no idea what they want. They need those number of submissions in order to formally start the contest and even consider being part of Tora-con's activites.

Is anyone understand what I'm talking about?

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:15 am

So before the coordinators would be willing to officially have a contest and set rules for it, they need 15 submissions; but before most people would be willing to send submissions, they'd want to see some rules. Is that how it is?

angelx03 · Post by **angelx03** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:22 am

Pretty much yes for both aspects.

genestarwind21122 · Post by **genestarwind21122** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:14 am

Well ask for just general rules. Length of submissions. Number of submissions from creators. I'm assuming keep it presentable for all ages.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:00 pm

Explain to them -- slowly -- that unless and until they're willing to provide rules (they could be coppied from any other con's contest webpage, as many often are), they will not recieve any submissions.

dokool · Post by **dokool** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:50 pm

I get a definite sense of "someone who knows nothing about the AMV scene trying to run a contest."

You might want to offer to help them out?

J.Alana · Post by **J.Alana** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:45 pm

Scintilla wrote:So before the coordinators would be willing to officially have a contest and set rules for it, they need 15 submissions; but before most people would be willing to send submissions, they'd want to see some rules. Is that how it is?

That's not a bad idea. Rules for submission should be posted along with the guidelines, format, criteria, etc.

I know that the tournies I have been involved with the rules have always been stipulated and usually the minimum number of entries is around 5 with a maximum number posted.

For the Winmx 2004 tourny, the minimum to make the tourny go down was 5 and maximum allowed was 30. Also, the Winmx Tourny was live done for nearly three hours and judges had to make the decisions that night.

It was usually the equivelent of the Oscars with all the drama to boot.

I'm much more for drama-less competition now.

AMV_4000 · Post by **AMV_4000** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:38 am

well, usually for amv contests you want certain length videos (most contests do about 7 minute max), also the codec for the videos usually is mpeg 1 or 2 because they play on most computers without need for special codecs. what you should do is look on these forums for other contests and see what most people do. some allow only 1 or 2 entries, but if your looking for atleast 15 entrys limit it to like 3 or 4.. (if you dont put a limit on it someone like me will enter 35 amvs...) you also need a deadline for when you want the videos, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to contact people incase their videos dont play right, that way they can send you another video, also give you a chance to check for naughty content and foul language. (2 to 4 weeks before contest might be about right) once you lay down the rules, i'll talk to my studio and get you some entrys... (maby chaos and toothpick will enter vids with me)
make sure you let people know that if you dont have at least 15 entrys, then the contest will not happen, maby that will light a fire under a few peoples asses and get them to enter...

other then that... just make sure you get the proper information from the amv creators. name, nickname, amv title, song, artist, studio ect.
hope that helps a bit...