General AMV Screenings at Anime Conventions

[ReligionX]

Before I go ahead and do something potentially ill-advised, I thought I'd borrow the knowledge of some people at the anime music video organization.

I am helping a friend to organize an anime convention where they would like to have a 90-120 minute general screening of AMVs. Because it is the convention's first year, they don't want to have too few entries for an AMV contest.

Assuming all credits are correctly given for each AMV and to its creator:

1. Is it considered bad form to show AMVs at a convention without contacting the creator first?

2. Is it considered bad form to contact individual AMV creators and ask them if it is all right if we show their video at a convention?

3. Do AMV creators need to sign off, on paper, that they acknowledge that their video will be shown at a convention?

The convention's site is still being worked on. http://tandokucon.com/

[BasharOfTheAges]

1. Is it considered bad form to show AMVs at a convention without contacting the creator first?

I'd say it's ethically in poor taste, but you'd be hard pressed to find someone who cared. Important to note is that plenty of vids get randomly screened as part of AMV pannels and filler time at smaller cons so it's not like you're suggesting anything extraordinary.

2. Is it considered bad form to contact individual AMV creators and ask them if it is all right if we show their video at a convention?

This method would be better IMHO - in addition to making sure you don't offend anyone's sensibilites you'd also be letting them know their work is being screened there. Who knows, you might get something else from them that they haven't released yet.

3. Do AMV creators need to sign off, on paper, that they acknowledge that their video will be shown at a convention?

This seems like overkill. If you were as paranoid as Otakon's lawyers perhaps you'd do this, but it's not nessisary in any way - I'd also argue that you'd gain no legal protection if some major case was to be made out of it. Legally binding signatures need to be done in the presence of both parties and a witness for them to be valid in most cases.

[Vlad G Pohnert]

How does one define "ethically in poor taste".. If you put it that way, then putting up videos publicly (like here) would be unethical as we don't ask the bands and anime holders for permission to play it either.

I think it all depends why they are being shown. If they are being shown in an AMV room or a large block, it becomes impractical to try to get permission form everyone.
Dedicated AMV rooms can play up to 250-300 video in the entire weekend and that would be logistically a nightmare to try to get in contact with every single person, ley alone get an answer. Dedicated rooms like at AWA don't ask permission of every single video they play.

Generally if it's been released publicly, then there is no reason why it can't be played. However, if you are using a video at a panel with analysis, then at that point letting the creator know is a good courtesy.

Vlad

[BasharOfTheAges]

How does one define "ethically in poor taste".. If you put it that way, then putting up videos publicly (like here) would be unethical as we don't ask the bands and anime holders for permission to play it either.

Well, the 2nd part of what i said was more to the point (about nobody caring) but i don't see how it would be much different than putting other people's videos up on youtube - which at least I feel is ethically in poor taste... Of course if you ever read ethical standards (not like we'd have any, but bare with me for sake of argument) they're often rather reaching in their prohibitions.

[Vlad G Pohnert]

Well, the 2nd part of what i said was more to the point (about nobody caring) but i don't see how it would be much different than putting other people's videos up on boochsack - which at least I feel is ethically in poor taste... Of course if you ever read ethical standards (not like we'd have any, but bare with me for sake of argument) they're often rather reaching in their prohibitions.

Ethics is extremely broad and can be subjective and something that can be urged from different angles in this case so I say we stop here

Sticking more on topic, I say it's fine to play AMVs that are publicly released at con blocks or rooms also long as it's played completely and intact. Having a sign off for this on paper is not practical or even desirable.

Vlad

[ReligionX]

Well, the 2nd part of what i said was more to the point (about nobody caring) but i don't see how it would be much different than putting other people's videos up on boochsack - which at least I feel is ethically in poor taste... Of course if you ever read ethical standards (not like we'd have any, but bare with me for sake of argument) they're often rather reaching in their prohibitions.

Ethics is extremely broad and can be subjective and something that can be urged from different angles in this case so I say we stop here

Sticking more on topic, I say it's fine to play AMVs that are publicly released at con blocks or rooms also long as it's played completely and intact. Having a sign off for this on paper is not practical or even desirable.

Vlad

It has been decided that I am going to request non-competing videos for a general screening. Thank you for your input. If the convention is sucessful and carries on from year to year, I have come up with some wonderful ideas based on responses from asking people like you.

Unfortunately, there will only be a total of 2 video rooms for the convention, where there will only be a 2 hour block for AMVs, and hopefully 1-2 hours for Fan Parodies, provided that I can actually get those.

The prospect of a room that plays AMVs non-stop made my heart skip a beat with joy. ^-^

[ReligionX]

Another Question!

Well, since we've decided to accept submissions for our AMV Screening, as though it were an AMV Contest, even though it's NOT a contest, can I still announce the convention's acceptance of AMVs in the AMV Contests section?

I don't know why they don't want to make it into a contest. They are set on having a contest next year. Not this year. Either way, it's still a way to showcase AMVs that haven't been in other AMV contests yet.