1) As far as the "team" experience goes, would you like to see another project editor (not season 3) utilize teamwork, or should it remain an individual experience?
I am more for the individual experience, I think teamwork doesn't really suit this kind of a contest...
2) This was the first project editor to utilize a "bracket" system instead of the usual "elimination" system. Of the two, which did you most prefer, and which would you like to see utilized more often?
I'd like to use the elimination system more, mainly because it is more dynamic towards the drops. Sure, it lets people advance because they "only" submitted something - but at least there's a fair advantage and reward for submitting a video.
3) Themes are of vital important to the contest, as they are the backbone of the system. What is your opinion on the themes this season? What kind of themes would you like to see more of? If you could recommend a theme for season 3 and beyond, what would it be?
Less recycling, please. As for the recommendation - I don't really know, but I'd be either for something fairly vague-ish and explaining judges it's so, or for really strict themes (a song from a certain group, using some genre of anime from some list/site, or so) - clearly defined, simply. Anything in between with lack of cooperation with contestants or judges is just asking for trouble. I stress this out mainly because I tend to think in a really different way than many people and apparently it pretty much killed my chances in at least two PoEs (along with last-minute editing, I admit).
Also I would prefer less points for theme. Really, I think 20 is kinda overdoing it and that 10 is enough. But I guess this depends on the contest, so... :>
4) Time restrictions and deadlines are always a concern, especially due to multiple time zones across the world. If given a chance, would you prefer a softer deadline system, allowing for users to upload to me after the "deadline", in observance of time differences, if a similar consideration is given to users in the same time zone as myself?
Softer, no. But I liked your "you have to upload until midnight, but I check videos when I get up *winkwink* system - it lets you not stress about something like upload rate or stuff. That should be utilized more~
5) What is your ideal type of judge you would like to see in Project Editor? Blind/Public? One that leaves comments and takes time, or one that gets results more quickly but has no commentary?
Public, that gets results with commentary quickly. Some deadline would be nice, so we know when we can expect the results.
But really, I think that proper feedback is what this contest is missing the most. I know they are tough to write, but at least two or three sentences is simply a must. To explain why you gave less in technical aspect, where was the lack of sync (for you) that deserved less points, etc. Unfortunately, it seems that the modern Twitter/FB status times (and the small fields in GDocs that look restricting) learned people to stop writing.
It might seem useless, but I have learned that pretty much ANYONE entering a contest of this type is happy for any and all feedback, the more precise the better. So, please, try to throw it in. Needless to say, if you write it down, it helps you reason out your point choices to yourself too!
6) What is something in this contest that you thought was best executed this year?
Mhmmm... usual standards, extras around.
7) What is something in this contest that you thought was worst executed this year?
Themes and their meaning, some lack of proper control over judges, no team check before competition and thus large amount of drops that affected the bracket system.
But for me, the main issue was the teamwork. I mean, I got paired with Kimberly, it was a great experience and an awesome ride - but as I work pretty much 9 - 18 and we were 6 hours apart, it was REALLY tough to edit something together to make it really work and not to be just two connected parts. For the R2 we managed to get together for some proper editing on the very last day only!
And only then we (or more precisely me, Kimberly never said anything about this to me) learn that other teams don't really edit together. Sure, the rules only say: "Meaning that individuals cannot enter the contest, and AMVs must be a collaborative effort," but really, isn't the approach "One editor edits it, other members beta it and recommend changes and that's a collaborative effort" a bit overdoing it? Nothing against (well, not really, stupid phrases), but it seems like a pretty big disadvantage to me if we take it that everyone has to edit at least a bit. Sure, our fault that it hasn't occured to us, but still...
Maybe I would like a late explanation of this rule and the next time to be a bit more precise about this thing in team contests.
8) Is there a particular rule/restriction that you would like to see added to future contests?
Not really.
9) Is there a particular rule/restriction that you would like to see removed from future contests?
Not really.
10) Would you like to see old themes recycled in the future (assuming enough time is given between the contests they are used in)?
Not really. Or at most some 10% of the contest themes (so 1-2 in bracket system, 1 in usual elimination system)
11) Anything not covered above? Explain it to me here!
You are a cute girl, Code. But you should really wear more pink and purple. It suits you. I recommend skirt and kneesocks. Striped ones ;x
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