Shoujocon 2002 Report (July 19-20 Only)

[Fungie½]

Shoujocon 2002 Report (Fri. and Sat.)

Thursday Evening

10:00pm - I finished my packing, and grabbed some money for my wallet. Then, I watched the movie "Empire Records" and fell asleep.

Friday

We (my mom and I) arrived into the hotel at around 2:15pm. The hotel was REALLY nice!! So anyway, we checked in, got our cards, and unpacked our stuff. Then, I ran downstairs to the registration. There was no one in line ahead of us. How lucky So anyway, after that, I decided to check out the dealers room. It was pretty nice! It had a wide variety of plushies, manga, DVD/VHS, japanise CD's, and t-shirts. I bought the first time around:

1. The Boa CD with the song "Duvet" from Serial Experiments Lain
2. An Umbrella Studios fanmanga book
3. The "Tokyo Mew Mew" manga of Vol.1
4. Shoujocon 2002 T-shirt

For a while I just wondered around the con, seeing what's going on here and there. At around 5:00pm, I came back to the room for a quick nap until 5:45 so I can catch "This Is Otakudom", Scott A. Melzer and co.'s parody, at 6:00pm. So anyway, I got to the video room at 5:50pm, then I was 6:00pm, and I realized.....I WAS IN THE WRONG ROOM! I got up and ran to the other room. Because of my lateness, I ended up sitting on the floor Oh well.

7:30pm - The Music Video Contest

It was supposed to start at 7:00pm, but because Kareoke started late (or they got alot of entries) it was pushed back about 20 minutes. Then the people had to set up. I was really waiting for this, because I've never entered into a contest, ever. However, I knew that if this video wasn't crowd-worthy, I wouldn't be sad. The budget for this video was $0.00. I used a demo of Premiere 6.0, a Sega Saturn game, a freeware program, and TMPGEnc. *sighs* Yeah I'm poor. Anyway, here is how the contest went:

Video #1. Mercury
Editor: Kirk Rende
Footage: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Song: "Blue" performed by Kirk Rende (?) *I don't think this is right, but thats what it says*

This video was full of effects, but it was still pretty enjoyable. Scott Melzer thought it was pretty good, and so did I. Just a tad too many effects. The best part of this video was where the Mercury made out of graphics started dancing. Everyone was cracking up. It was a nice starter for the contest.

Video #2. Bed Of Roses
Editor: Jennifer Grzankowski
Footage: Final Fantasy IX
Song: "Bed Of Roses" by Bon Jovi

A video that really lost my interest. I've played through most of FFIX, and seen almost all of the sequences. This video seemed to just drag on, although it did match the lyrics sometimes. An overall ok video.

Video #3. Future Girls
Editor: Josh Harmon
Footage: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Song: "Future Girls" by Smile.dk

I saw this video at the Otakon 2002 Pre-screenings and loved it. Many people thought this video was really good, including myself. *starts singing* "Cause we move round and round in circles...round and round again." Ah, anyway, I really liked this video. It got out the magical girl in Sailormoon.

Video #4. My Name Is Arima
Editor: Hyo Moon
Footage: Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo
Song: "Luka" by Suzanne Vega

The only video at the con that made me cry, and by far my vote for 3rd place (on the ballad you put your vote for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd). This video was really sad, and got into the mind of Arima. I've never seen the series before but I've been working on a project to the same song and it's so powerful. I was in tears, and really hope that I can find this video on the web.

Video #5. Paranoia Rebirth
Editor: Meridith Cantoni (MeriC)
Footage: Ayashi no Ceres
Song: "A Place For My Head" by Linkin Park

This is another powerful video, getting inside Aki's side of Ayashi no Ceres, a fairly new series made by the creators of Fushigi Yuugi. I saw this video at the Otakon Pre-screenings as well, and love it. This was my vote for 2nd place.

Video #6. Where I Want To Be
Editor: Steve Pope
Footage: Magic Knight Rayearth
Song: "Breathing" by Lifehouse

A sweet video, about the relationship between the boy with the green hair and the girl with the green hair (I've never seen Rayearth). It was pretty nice.

Video #7. Beliver
Editor: Kate Dooley (merrow)
Footage: Fruits Basket
Song: "I'm A Believer" by Smash Mouth

Crowd favorite. I thought it was pretty funny, but the footage wasn't that hot. I loved the video, and so did many others.

Video #8. Toy Soldiers
Editor: Farrell Lecorps
Footage: Gundam Wing
Song: "Toy Soldiers" by Markita

As soon as I saw the Cartoon Network logo, I knew it was over. I actually encouraged this person to enter into the contest, but not this video!! *sighs* Oh well, it looked really bad, but got the nice applause. Sorry Farrell.

Video #9. ...To Hell, or Wherever!
Editor: Skye Souter
Footage: Hana Yori Dango
Song: "With You" by Linkin Park

THIS VIDEO WAS MADE WITH A CAMCORDER! That is pure crapola right there. You can see the time in the left hand corner. It is so bad! The video itself was ok, but the footage, and quality, yuck!

Video #10. Utena In A Cocoon of Love
Editor: Daniel McCarthy (Fungie½) *That's me*
Footage: Shoujo Kakumei Utena for the Sega Saturn
Song: "Cocoon" by Björk

Well I should say something about my video. When alot of people look at my video info, they see the RealPlayer file, shudder, and hit the back button. I was hoping that by entering my Mpeg that people can understand that quality IS good. The crowd actually liked this video, as some were even shouting (no joke, but not as loud as when the saw Anneke's!). I don't expect this video to win, and I never did. Just wanted to show people who I really am (and how badly I need hosting).

Video #11. Yui's Choice
Editor: Sarah Figat
Footage: Fushigi Yuugi
Song: "Crawling In The Dark" by Hoobastank

This video was plagued by problems, plus a bad choice of footage. It had the same idea as Kusoyaro's video.

Video #12. Suichi's Question
Editor: Cynthia Delker (Anneke)
Footage: Various
Song: "What's This" by Danny Elfman

Straight up laughter from start to finish! She does great work, and I love this video! There was so much screaming and laughter in the room!! This was my vote for 1st place, and I believe many others too.

Anywho, the contest ended at around 8:50, so I just headed upstairs afterwords to bed.

12:30am

It's just my luck to have a fever at Shoujocon. I woke up my mom, and so she went through her bag, got some Tylenol and some more water, and I slept. I was really tired.

Saturday

This was a really fun day. I woke up, had breakfast, and then headed back to the dealers room. Then I bought:

1. Magical Users Club Vol. 1 & 2 (VHS) ($4!!)
2. Last Labrynth (cant spell) ($2!!)
3. Gestalt (DVD) ($20)
4. Plushie (I don't remember the name $5)
5. Mini figures ($8)

Anywho, at 11:45, I headed upstairs for the Music Video panel, where all the fun began. I was standing next to the door of panel 1, when I look over and see 2 people walking up to me. They said hi, and one of them asked me if I was Fungie. I played dumb and said I dunno, and then finally said yes, after seeing Yosho's badge. I said "Oh hi!!" and he introduced me to Anneke, the person who I hung out with at the Panel. She was Utena in homemade pajamas! How kawaii!

At noon, I headed into the room, and Anneke took our seats, which we eventually had to move up so people can get through. But we found new seats. I remember what Anneke said, "What we do for music videos." I smiled.

The panel was really nice. We talked about numerous different things, from technical to genre to music to video to everything. The panel consitisted of 5 people. I only know 4 names of the top of my head (Scott Melzer, Meri Cantoni, Mike LaBrie, Jon something). Then there was the moderator, but I don't remember his name. The panel was really nice. They should 3 videos which I really think sum up AMV's. They showed:

dokidoki's Right Now Someone Is Reading This Title
Kevin Caldwell's Believe
Vlad G. Pohnert's Memories Dance

I'm glad they showed Believe which is such a strong video and really got me to do more than clips to a song. We all expressed our opinions, but the funnest part was meeting other creators. Some were MeriC, VegettoEX, Scott A. Melzer, Yosho, Anneke, Ninja Cracker Studios, Lukas Chen and Silvercat. I got CD's from most of them, but I don't have Scott's since I left it in Ninja Cracker Studios labtop I got to get him to send me one in the mail. I saw his DDR project. Really nice!

Anywho, after the panel was done, we all went down to the clubhouse for a party. Meri snagged most of my cookies, and then when I gave her the crumbs, she dropped then in Mike's bag. I was laughing so hard. We watched some of the videos on the CD's, then packed up and went to the Ice Cream social upstairs. Silvercat, my plushie, and I all went upstairs ahead, and snagged the icecream. Hehehe. Then we all just kinda split up. It was nice having a party.

6:00pm

I went to "This Is Otakudom" again (I got in the right room!) and watched that. I saw my friends of course, then went to the contest again. After I saw the MV contest, I had to leave.

I was really sad leaving, since I left behind alot of friends there, and I really hope that we can all meet up again. Anneke, Silvercat, come back to the eastcoast next year for Shoujocon or Katsucon. I loved your company! Thanks to everyone making this trip so special. Love ya all!

~Daniel

[Otaku13]

hey fungie! yeah, email me at chibijosh13@mac.com, and ill see about mailing you your cd, i certainly dont need 2 copies unless you are hitting otakon?

[Scott A Melzer]

D'oh!
Sorry about your CD, Fungie! I figured that Otaku13 was playing his own copy! IF he doesn't get it to you (it might have been damaged by shuttling around in the laptop or something) then I'll gladly send you another.

Wow! Thanks for all the nice things you said about lots of people. Way cool. I was really nervous about our panels (we also did a panel/workshop on making fan parodies) and it's great to know that you had fun and liked it!

I had a real blast meeting people (as always). It IS nice to put faces and personalities and all that with the names. Way cool. I WOULD like to say one thing about the meeting this year. There was NOTHING negative. Every single person that I met was way cool, very happy to meet other people, having a great time, and seemed really interested in everyone else's work. Sure, we had some tech problems. Sure, we didn't have a room (we stole one, but it was stolen back at 3:00). Sure, there were only about 10 of us. But... It was great! I'm hoping that the Otakon one will be equally positive!

I'd also like to fill in a blank. There were only FOUR creators on the panel, plus the moderator. They were (from your left to right, in case you were there and don't know who said what) myself, Meri Cantoni (MeriC), Mike LaBrie (VegettoEX), our moderator Richard Suchenski (ptmd42), and Jon Miller (Ravenfire).

I can also announce the winners of the AMV contest.

#3 Meri Cantoni's "Paranoia Rebirth"
#2 Kate Dooley's "Believer"
#1 Anneke's "Suichi's Question"

Congrats to everyone, and thanks to everyone who helped make this a wonderful con. I had SUCH a blast. I'll see a lot of you next week at Otakon!!!!!

[anneke]

... I miss everyone. <pouts> <hugs>

Maybe with the terror that was my trip out there I can get a free plane ticket out of JetBlue and make it to an East coast convention next year. (i'll talk about the travel problems tomorrow).

The AMV panel was alot of fun.

Scott's Fandub parody was great.

I'm so jelous at all the awsome DDR players.

I got the idea of Sleep Sleep Revolution burned into my brain. <thanks Scott>

Met a bunch of great people. Bed now...

Anneke

[Ravenfire19]

I must say that was an Awesome convention. I had fun running around and setting up for those two panels/workshops. I also had a great time meeting all the people from a-m-v.org you were all so cool and nice. In fact I don't think that the entire time I was there I experienced any dislike at all. (except the obivous jerk offs from the car show, but they don't count).
I am hoping to see many of you again in a couple of days at Otakon.
If you want to find me its pretty simple. Look in any of the 4 following places. DDR Tournament, Music Videos Contest, Fan Parody Showing and of course the place I am the most the dealers room. (where I will blow another crapload of dollars.)
Well I hope to see you all later until then take care.
Jon

(in any case their are spelling errors its because I didn't feel like proof reading .)

[Silvercat]

Shoujocon was great fun.
I still need to write up my report about it. <_< >_>
*hides from Spyral* (I know she will pester me about getting that done and I'm lazy).

Anyway, this was my second con. My first was at AX 2001.
It was very interesting going to a small con and I really liked it.
It was great running into the same people over and over again (Oh NO! Another AMVer. HIDE! jk) And the panel being so small you can have an easy discussion, not a huge room full of people like at AX.

Plus meeting all of you was great.
You all where great, even if I was so food deprived at the party I couldn't really carry on a real conversation (didn't realise this until after I ate though. ^^;; )

[Tori Yuki Ichimura]

I must say... Shoujocon is my favorite convention of all time! They also have the sexiest mascot. ((MEROW!))
Actually, I stumbled into the music video contest this year. Lucky for me because I never would have found it if I was looking for it! (Anyone who was there knows what I'm talking about with the schedule) ^_____^ Just thinking of "What's This" makes me double over with laughter. Heh, best use of FAKE footage I've seen yet.