sorry another question [contest trolls?]

pataki0021 · Post by **pataki0021** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:00 pm

well i read some rules on various amv contests, and i was just wondering, what are trolls, amv wise, i checked the rules its that an amv being in a lot of contests and from the readign of the rules, is it true that it is completely frowned upon by amv judges?

Kalium · Post by **Kalium** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:15 pm

Trolling in this context referrs to the practice of sending a video to a large number of conventions with the explicit intent of gathering as many awards as possible.

pataki0021 · Post by **pataki0021** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:18 pm

i guess it is frowned upon, i gotta be careful

AquaSky · Post by **AquaSky** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:03 pm

Fellow editors tend to frown upon it. Some general tips would include :
- Send the video to a convention only if you plan on attending, unless it's one of the larger cons (AWA, Anime Expo, Otakon, etc). Submitting stuff to small cons without even attending is usually poor form.
- Try to keep a given video to four contests or less. It gets old to see the same video over and over during con season.

Just my two cents on the matter, but that seems to be the general consensus from past threads on the subject.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:00 am

IcyCloud wrote: - Send the video to a convention only if you plan on attending, unless it's one of the larger cons (AWA, Anime Expo, Otakon, etc). Submitting stuff to small cons without even attending is usually poor form.

Which results in mediocre contests at best.

I submit whereever but don't actually expect to ever win anything. It's the intent and assumption you will win that makes it trolling, right?

AquaSky · Post by **AquaSky** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:26 am

Intent isn't the deciding factor, it's the act itself. And I've seen plenty of contests requiring editor attendance that were anything but mediocre. In fact, the more mediocre contests are the ones that are made up of the same videos people have been sending out all con season.

On the other hand, I've seen someone from France send in a video to a tiny local con of about 200 or so people, and take Best of Show. That's the kind of thing I have an issue with. If you don't care enough about a convention to be bothered with attending, and simply want to be a big fish in a small pond, that's trolling.

Brakus · Post by **Brakus** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:55 am

BasharOfTheAges wrote:
IcyCloud wrote: - Send the video to a convention only if you plan on attending, unless it's one of the larger cons (AWA, Anime Expo, Otakon, etc). Submitting stuff to small cons without even attending is usually poor form.
Which results in mediocre contests at best.

I submit whereever but don't actually expect to ever win anything. It's the intent and assumption you will win that makes it trolling, right?

Intent and assumption that you will win. I can give you a perfect example of that: last year's AMV contest at Anime Mid-Atlantic.

An editor from France (not istiv) submitted his videos to AMA's contest, and promptly won Best Action, Best Drama, and Best In Show. The prizes were flown to his address in France he gave to the convention on the convention's dime..... and they were eventually returned to the convention because the address in France was no good. So here was an international editor invading a convention's contest and taking them for their expensive shipping.

Now *THAT'S* trolling.

I submit to contests all over the country because I'd like to get as wide an audience as possible. Any awards that are won are just the icing on the cake. As long as I am following the rules of the specific contest, I'll submit to that contest. As strange as it seems that I'm saying this, it doesn't matter if my AMV wins awards. If it's shown in the main contest, I'm perfectly happy.

anneke · Post by **anneke** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:44 pm

General 'rules' about trolling...

If your attending the convention, your free to send in a video.

If it's a major convention, your free to send in a video.

If your video has won several awards, EXPECIALLY awards at the 'major' conventions, it's time to retire the video and make a new one.

If the video is over a year old, stop sending it out.

I feel if it's won an award (been showcased in the public eye) it should have a life of 6 months or less *again not to be over the 1 year old video rule.

If your poor/broke, and can't attend conventions, you are still allowed to submit to 'small' conventions that are 'local'. If you had the money and would reasonably go to the convention, you can still enter. If your friends are going to the convention, it's within driving distance, your generally allowed to send videos.

If you have no 'local' conventions, send to the 'major' conventions. For other conventions, speak with the AMV contest director.

You can ALWAYS enter your videos to any contest you like, as EXHIBITION ONLY. Meaning it's not competing or to win awards.

-Anneke

anneke · Post by **anneke** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:50 pm

Oh and to determine what 'size' a convention is...

Large / Major conventions - The convention has happened for 10+ years, has 10,000+ attendees. In general: AX, Otakon, AWA are the biggest three. Usually held in Convention Centers, and multiple hotels.

Medium Conventions - Been around for apx. 5 years. 3,000+ attendees.
Usually held in a single Hotel, maybe an extra 'overflow' hotel.

Small/Local conventions - Been around for 3 years or less. Around 1000 attendees or less. It's held on a college campus, or in a small hotel. No overflow hotel because they don't need it.

-Anneke

Kisanzi · Post by **Kisanzi** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:08 pm

Usually you want to pick out your conventions before submitting randomly to everything that comes up. Whenever I have a new vid that I wanna send I'll pick a couple conventions I'm going to be at and maybe a couple others if the due dates are close. I don't know if anyone else does this, but I actually look where the con is being held so I don't submit the same vid to two cons held in the same part of the country so that the same audience doesn't see the same vid time after time.

But submitting to a few conventions of your choice to get your vid seen by others is ok. Using the same vid and constantly submitting it to everything for months is trolling whether it wins something or not.