AWA 2011 Pro Video Discussion Thread

[Ileia]

Sadly, the "reveal" has less of an impact when half the videos are already released and so many have already been to/won at several other cons. I realize that the blind isn't enforced at all, so the entrants aren't to blame, but it definitely ruined what made this contest so enjoyable for me, what separated it from the rest. I don't think I'll be entering again next year.

[l33tmeatwad]

Sadly, the "reveal" has less of an impact when half the videos are already released and so many have already been to/won at several other cons. I realize that the blind isn't enforced at all, so the entrants aren't to blame, but it definitely ruined what made this contest so enjoyable for me, what separated it from the rest. I don't think I'll be entering again next year.

Yeah, I had seen quite a few of them and knew who made them, but I avoided looking up a lot of videos during this process so I wouldn't come across videos that I didn't know about that were in the contest. I think having Masters this year probably hurt the number of fresh entries, as most of the fresh entries were probably saved for that.

[BasharOfTheAges]

I have to say, I find it kinda weird that they have an iOS only app. Any idea as to why they don't use guidebook like everyone else? It's soo much easier to use...

Could be budgetary. If you got in at the introductory rate, Guidebook is still $500 for the most basic version and too few downloads (2500) for something AWA's size. The next step up is $1750. No idea what their books look like, but for some cons that's a bit much to ask if you're going to still do the printed guides too. Those were the discounted prices too... they went up a week or so ago when the promotion ended.

[Mr Pilkington]

Sadly, the "reveal" has less of an impact when half the videos are already released and so many have already been to/won at several other cons. I realize that the blind isn't enforced at all, so the entrants aren't to blame, but it definitely ruined what made this contest so enjoyable for me, what separated it from the rest. I don't think I'll be entering again next year.

It's damn near impossible for the contest coordinators to enforce the blinded aspect of the contest. In these forums and AWAs maybe, but there a lot of other mediums out there. I already griped about this ad nauseum with VAT staff and they admit its more of a guideline. I think the entrants are to blame personally. It call goes back to "just because someone can, shouls they." I try to make something new for every Pro and hide it from people I know are competing. To me it's more about a fair balanced competition. But there are always going to be trolls, if you want to weed them out just stop voting for those videos unless you feel it really deserves the award.


To me it's just disrespectful to completely piss on the rules when there people spend so much time (pro-bono mind you) to set up this level of competition.
my 2¢

[zeiram_00]

That's me with video #40

I too was disappointed with the lack of true 'blind' judging for this year. I did enjoy some of the other changes/updates for this year's edition. I guess people are just getting lazy or just lack confidence/balls/competitiveness to send fresh videos in to the Pro competition. My basic breakdown or outlook of the different competitions is; Expo is general contest or best of the current years videos, Pro is new videos by 'veterans' that know how to consistently produce quality work, and Masters is an AWA specific video competition. I'll be back next year and hoping to have multiple videos in both Pro and Expo.

As for how to combat the 'blindness' factor: There is only so much coordinators can do about it and I personally Disqualify videos from my list if I've seen then before at other conventions/contests. EX. #14 Mad World from this year, I didn't even bother to score it. I also dropped another video from possible nomination because I had seen it earlier in the year. (I was much harsher in 'black listing' Mad World because it has both won and competed in contests as far back as April that I personally know of and possibly even earlier. So very unhappy seeing it make the finals)

Eagerly anticipating the results for this year and hope that future events have improved enjoy-ability and excitement

[l33tmeatwad]

I'll be honest and admit I vaguely knew the convention existed (haven't really attended many in the past, rather new trend for me the past 2 years) and knew nothing of the contests until someone told me about it in person (I try to avoid trolling videos to every contest, so I don't look into every contest thread). After reading the rules and such I was interested in competing so I submitted with the newest video I had on hand completed (which had already been posted online by that point). While I knew a lot of the videos, I still enjoyed the process of peer judging all the videos. I apologize to those who I may have annoyed by not having a fresh video ...

[SailorDeath]

Sadly, the "reveal" has less of an impact when half the videos are already released and so many have already been to/won at several other cons. I realize that the blind isn't enforced at all, so the entrants aren't to blame, but it definitely ruined what made this contest so enjoyable for me, what separated it from the rest. I don't think I'll be entering again next year.

The rules for pro don't say that the videos need to be new and non-trollish. They say they frown upon it, but they're still allowed. But I agree I would like to see an end to troll-mvs in pro. It was one of the things I liked about pro back when I first started entering it, the fact I would be competing with all new videos. Kinda sucks to enter and then find out you got clobbered by an amv that already won several awards at different conventions and here you made something new just for that contest.

[SailorDeath]

Sadly, the "reveal" has less of an impact when half the videos are already released and so many have already been to/won at several other cons. I realize that the blind isn't enforced at all, so the entrants aren't to blame, but it definitely ruined what made this contest so enjoyable for me, what separated it from the rest. I don't think I'll be entering again next year.

It's damn near impossible for the contest coordinators to enforce the blinded aspect of the contest. In these forums and AWAs maybe, but there a lot of other mediums out there. I already griped about this ad nauseum with VAT staff and they admit its more of a guideline. I think the entrants are to blame personally. It call goes back to "just because someone can, shouls they." I try to make something new for every Pro and hide it from people I know are competing. To me it's more about a fair balanced competition. But there are always going to be trolls, if you want to weed them out just stop voting for those videos unless you feel it really deserves the award.


To me it's just disrespectful to completely piss on the rules when there people spend so much time (pro-bono mind you) to set up this level of competition.
my 2¢

tell you what, next year, send me the titles of the videos entered along with the anime used and the song (this way it'll still be blind for me since I won't know who made it just from that.) then open up google and search. If google finds it, then it gets dq'd. of course that's up to the contest coordinators whether they want to do that. And that'd only cover those who already released their videos, and not someone who keeps it offline but still sends it everywhere.

We could make a contest out of it. call it "Pro Troll Hunter" and we give certificates to those other competitors who can sniff out the videos that have been played/premiered elsewhere.

[SailorDeath]

I'll be honest and admit I vaguely knew the convention existed (haven't really attended many in the past, rather new trend for me the past 2 years) and knew nothing of the contests until someone told me about it in person (I try to avoid trolling videos to every contest, so I don't look into every contest thread). After reading the rules and such I was interested in competing so I submitted with the newest video I had on hand completed (which had already been posted online by that point). While I knew a lot of the videos, I still enjoyed the process of peer judging all the videos. I apologize to those who I may have annoyed by not having a fresh video ...

It's okay, there's a difference between not knowing and blatantly ignoring the suggestion. Personally I know your video is of better quality than mine. So my odds of winning are low. I was a little shocked about the removal of #6 and #20 so late in the game (and at the same time a little happy, cause I knew it up my odds of winning.) Though honestly, as good as yours was I think #20 had you and me beat in terms of funny. Only one way I'm gonna find out if I won now and that's on Saturday.

Edited fer grammar and small revisions.

[l33tmeatwad]

It's okay, there's a difference between not knowing and blatantly ignoring the suggestion. Personally I know your video and Ask Milly are of better quality of mine, so my odds of winning are low. I was a little shocked about the removal of the 2 entries so late in the game (and at the same time a little happy, cause I knew it up my odds of winning) Only one way I'm gonna find out and that's on Saturday.

Which one was yours?