Otakon AMV Contest 2005 Geoff or new guy

genestarwind21122 · Post by **genestarwind21122** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:29 am

To start things off I want to say this is my honest opinion about this years Otakon Contest. I think it went very well for someones first time running an amv contest. And anything I've typed in here is just me trying to look out for the best of the contest that I've had known since 2002. If it wasn't for these contest that we have now I don't know what I would be doing since Otakon 2002 was my inspiration for my amv's. I'm not saying that you have to agree to everything here, but at least read what I think. I maybe right or I maybe wrong it is your choice. I'm not forcing anything. Like I said I want you all to enjoy the contest that we know.

Here's the low down with the Otakon Contest.

Geoff is being replaced with some new guy named Jason Marin. Due to unfair influence. Here's what we know about Geoff. We know he's made in amv you can tell by looking at his profile. Geoff knows the trial and contribuations a person makes when going through an amv. 2. Geoff has time and time again has asked for our input. If you need proof look on the archives here on the org. 3. This was his first time running an amv contest. Some rookie mistakes are to be expected, but its not like Geoff made every rookie mistake. In all fairness he did pretty well for his first time. 4. Geoff has plan if he still in power he wouldn't make those mistakes again. 5. Geoff has a detailed schedule for the contest that has no room for delays. (like this year for example there were delays that affected the contest and not to his part.)

Here's what we know about Jason Marin. 1. He's been with the LARP before 2000. Since then he's been trying to take it over and failed. 2. He ran the New York screening, not so much ran but played the tapes. 3. He's never made an amv nor has ever attempted to do so. 4. He runs an anime club that runs ever fansub that he has. 5. He thinks since he has seen alot anime and amv's that he can run a contest based off of that, but in turn as an amv creator I know that it takes more than watching anime and amv's to know what makes a good one and doesn't. Yes I'm not perfect but it comes with practice to understand concepts and the editing of amv's. You could say that it is an art still. 6. His wife runs video operations for Otakon and there could be some controversey.

Let's face it people it is against the devil's we know against the devil's we don't know. Geoff will change his mind for a good argument. On the other hand we don't know about Jason. With the same thing somebody new we may have the same problems as we did this year for next year or it could be worse who knows. Would you rather have Geoff which you know has experience and is determine to work harder or some new person that has no experience and needs to learn everything. Also I've heard something about Geoff creating a trailer contest for next years convention. Another thing is Geoff has a suprise for next years Otakon but that willn't if he is not around. This idea is an idea I gave to him and this shows that he is a people person and is commit to our ideals.

To get Geoff back at the helm we need to start a patition and send it to president@otakon.com. Please help support Geoff and the contest we all know and love.

If you want to talk too Geoff please pm me and I'll give you his contact information.

Gene Starwind 21122

genestarwind21122 · Post by **genestarwind21122** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:04 am

Also as another note I got all the information from anomus Otakon Staff members. Just to let you know. I forgot to type that in above if you were all wondering where I got the information from.

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:38 am

Does Geoff plan to be any more easily accessible than he was this year?

greenjinjo · Post by **greenjinjo** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:39 am

Yeah I had heard this as well.

Sadly I don't know much about Geoff or the way he ran the contest, but I hear that behind the scenes there were a few issues.

I personally thought the actual contest (as a fan/viewer, not as a contestant or co-volunteer) went fairly well.

I'd have to have more info on the both of them before I sign any petition though. Although I agree, the contest should be ran by an AMV creator (on some level, they don't have to be good/famous or anything).

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:41 pm

Hmmm Well, one of the issues is that no established creator who could do it has stepped up to the plate.... Thus we are stuck with this situation... To be honest, I would prefer someone else besides the option we have...

Also, one should realize that I don't think Geoff or this supposid "new Guy" has the technical knowlege to encode the videos as required.. Tat was handled by Quu and thus it makes the contest look good...

Sadly I see this as the first step in what may be "a turn for the worst" for the AMV contest at Otakon.... It's hard to believe since it's the single biggest contest in the US and has the largest audiance and a HUGE event for Otakon and yet it seems it's becoming a political bombshell...

Vlad

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:49 pm

Vlad G Pohnert wrote:Hmmm Well, one of the issues is that no established creator who could do it has stepped up to the plate....

I thought I'd heard at least one well-established creator say he was going to make a bid for it...

Fungie½ · Post by **Fungie½** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:11 pm

Honestly, I'd prefer someone who didn't have very much knowledge of AMVs to run it in the long run. It sounds crazy, yes, but take a "big-name: creator who applies for the job. Obviously, he's going to know people in the community, and it's very possible that he could be biased. This would be bad. Very bad. Rather, I would like someone who would show the tapes, add up the scores, and pick the highest ones, like any other fair judge/coordinator would.

I've heard a lot of really bad rumors about Geoff. Some of the worst I've heard are that he didn't count some of the ballads, and the other is that he had selected the finalists before tape 7 was even screened. I can't confirm these rumors, as I was not on staff or anything.

Yes, it's true that this was his first time running the contest. But there were still some very bad problems, like communication. I believe there was a look of horror when Geoff said he checked his e-mail religiously once a week... wah? Once a week? I balance school and a social life, but it doesn't take much to click my Inbox button, which I do maybe twice a day. That was a pretty big problem in my opinion. Another problem was all the different deadlines. I think there were around 3-4. Set a deadline and keep it. It's a good thing.

I know that running the tapes at AXNY was actually an instruction. I heard he tried to make a compilation tape, but that AX just wanted to run the tapes to avoid tech problems.

Honestly, rather than pointing out the negatives of what he has, I think we should let him say what his plan is. We've got quite a good amount of time until the next Otakon. We can't just immediately reject him because he's new. Geoff had no experience running an AMV contest with his first try either.

By the way, I heard that firing Geoff was actually a final decision, so I don't know if it actually matters at this point. I know quite a few people who would do quite a bit to make sure he doesn't get elected again. Why else would he be fired in the first place?

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 5:53 pm

I honestly do not see how the firing of Geoff was due to unfair influence.

He ran the contest very very poorly. The reason it seemed so smooth at the con was essentially thanks to Otaku Video and the other staffers.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/absolu ... 26532.html

I made that LJ post back in July and that was before I found out the sheer extent of the tasks Geoff was performing either badly or not at all.

"Well the thing is he does not have a computer.... or well... a house phone for that matter. So it's difficult to get any sort of communication going with him"

Seems to be a recurring theme.

Lets see, other problems - People having submitted two videos when one was the limit and both being accepted, Geoff promising expenses to be paid with Otakon money when it was not his place to do so, leaving in a video that had a divx logo (strictly against the rules).....

I don't really think I need to go on.

What I will say is that we should leave judgements of Jason Marin until he has been given the chance to prove himself. I will not have any personal attacks made against people who have yet to do the job. People who take roles of responsiblity and do them badly are subject to criticism but I will not have any slurring against people until they have had a chance to show they are capable.

Geoff had his chance, the mistakes he made are unacceptable and he has been judged accordingly.

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 6:13 pm

Well, I really don't have anything again a new person... So as long as said person has proper contact and communication with the people entering it and actually cares about it all.

Again, I never said it has to be a "big" name creator, but I think the new person does have to have atleast some knowledge and presence in this field... This just makes sence since it applies to other events such as cosplay, karaoke, etc... Past track records have indicated people unfamiliar with the material or community of what they are running tends to "weaken" the event....

Really my concern is the whole atmosphere that has sourrouded the contest... The problem is it's been running smoothly for a lot of years so it's been taken for granteded that anyone can run it...

In the end, what Otakon decided to do is really thier decision.. We as creators only hold the decision to enter or not to enter... I just hope that the presence of AMVs at Otakon does not deminish by all this. That would be tragic...

Vlad

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 6:16 pm

Oh BTW Gene, I do have to agree with Absolute Destiny on a lot of point in regards to Geoff... There were just too many problems and issues I heard of that arrose from the running of the contest... Poor and lack of communication being the worst...

Vlad