AMV Contest Category Comments?

[Geirr]

I am coordinating an AMV contest for a 'blended con,' where there will be both anime and general science fiction programming. Besides the "Basic Categories We All Know,' (Comedy, Action, Dance, Drama/Romance, Parody Trailer/Commercials etc.) I am trying to define a category of AMV specifically targeted to the general SF-fan con-goer whose first real foray into anime might be dropping by the AMV contest or an AMV show - and thinking "Huh?!?! Hey - this is COOL!"

What sort of suggestions would you have for defining (and even Naming) such a category? Is there anything I might need to be careful about so that the category concept isn't boring or unaccessible to anime fans as well?

I am thinking, such a work should "include reference to space travel, exploration, or alien contact" but be an open format otherwise.

Comments & Suggestions?

- G

[tuathaanwarrior]

You could try a "Sci-Fi" category. Anime has science fiction just as books or movies do and i would think the distinction is just as clear.

[dokool]

I am coordinating an AMV contest for a 'blended con,' where there will be both anime and general science fiction programming. Besides the "Basic Categories We All Know,' (Comedy, Action, Dance, Drama/Romance, Parody Trailer/Commercials etc.) I am trying to define a category of AMV specifically targeted to the general SF-fan con-goer whose first real foray into anime might be dropping by the AMV contest or an AMV show - and thinking "Huh?!?! Hey - this is COOL!"

That seems like a *lot* of categories for what sounds like a relatively small contest. Even a lot of big anime-only conventions don't have that many...

But yeah, I agree with <b>tuathaanwarrior</b>, having a Sci-Fi AMV category might be a good start. Of course, then you have to define which AMVs are and aren't science fiction...

[godix]

Blatent Abuse of Special Effects. Regardless of if sci-fi fans admit to it or not that's quite often the reason they'll watch something so you should go ahead and make it a catagory.

[Geirr]

"Basic Categories We All Know,' (Comedy, Action, Dance, Drama/Romance, Parody Trailer/Commercials etc)

That seems like a *lot* of categories for what sounds like a relatively small contest.

D-oh! I ws just listing stuff we on this board would likely already kn ow. I am only going to run 4 or 5 categories, and only show 3 - 5 entries per category. So far I'm thinking of:

1 - Action/Effects
2- This Science Fiction catergory
3- Dance Video
4 - (Undecided, but definitely NO T "Drama/Romance")
5 - Comedy, Parody Trailers, etc.

Of course, then you have to define which AMVs are and aren't science fiction...

THAT's what I am trying to figger out HERE on this thread!
I do like the 'Blatant Abuse of Special effects'

- G

[dokool]

1 - Action/Effects
2- This Science Fiction catergory
3- Dance Video
4 - (Undecided, but definitely NO T "Drama/Romance")
5 - Comedy, Parody Trailers, etc.

Why <i>not</i> Drama/Romance? Drama (and to a lesser extent, Romance) is a staple category of AMV Contests everywhere...

[Geirr]

4 - (Undecided, but definitely NOT "Drama/Romance")

Why <i>not</i> Drama/Romance? Drama (and to a lesser extent, Romance) is a staple category of AMV Contests everywhere...

What I mean is that I don't define a category as just 'Drama/Romance.' Instead, I have been experimenting with defining other categories into which Drama and & Romance works would fit. (I also experiment with category definitions that screen out Linkinball-Z and Naruto fight videos, but that's just me. )

Just my experience, in my observations at AMV contests, 'Drama/Romance' as a category (with no further definition) tends to be play on the audience as a 'sit on your hands and wake me when it's over' slot of time. That's why it's often sandwiched between other categories that people are more enthused about - action, effects, comedies, etc.

But within the sands of generally slower-paced works there are certainly some emotionally engaging gems out there - poignant, exhillarating, really lovely works.

So instead, I try to create other categories which draw these works in, but add some sort of novel twist to something unique, to raise audience interest and curiosity about ALL the works in that particular slot.

This said, please carefully note that I'm not claiming to be EXPERT at defining these categories!

But in the case of 'science fiction,' a creator could do a romantic or emotional work with the characters of 'PlanetES,' Tenchi & Ryoko, or any other 'relationship' work or 'profile of a character with emotional challenges.' Maybe some of the Gundam gang would work.

- G

PS: Cool avatar, btw.

[genestarwind21122]

Not true Otakon 2004 had a very interesting Romance and Drama category. The songs for the most part were upbeat and everyone was into them. Otakon 2004 Contest List:

Romance/Sentimental

1. Love in Digital - Vlad G Phonert - Video Girl Ai-NoDoubt "It's My Life"
2. What it Meants to Be Young - A.T.Chang - Final Fantasy X -Fire,Inc. "Tonight is What it Means to be Young"
3. Waiting For You - Daniel Chang (Dwchang) -Ah! Megamisama-Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting"
4. Momory - Meredith "Merci" Cantoni - Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon - Sugarcult "Memory"
5. Fighting For Your Love - Starwind/Hawking Productions (Gene Starwind 21122) - The Slayers, The Slayers Next, Slayers Try - New Found Glory "Glory of Love"
6. Naota's Lament - rogueintellectproductions - Furi Kuri- lostprophets "Last Train Home
7. Kei's Echo - Pork Sausage Productions - Onegai Teacher - Trapt "Echo"

Serious/Dramatic

8. Silence - Aluminum Studios - NieA_7, Original Animation - Delerium featuring Sara McLaughlin "Silence"
9. Sacrifice - John Robert Pickett - Full Metal Alchemist - The Who "Behind Blue Eyes"
10. Versailles Paradise - Graven Image - Versailles no Bara- Stevie Wonder "Pastime Paradise"
11. Faithless - Daniel Charles Hopkins (Hurqlez03) - Evangelion, Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, The End of Evangelion - Linkin Park "Numb"
12. A Different Side Of Me - Suberunker Studeosh - Golden Boy - Matchbox 20 "Unwell"
13. Angel's Redemption - AuN Studios- Ayashi no Ceres - Mazedude "Bloodbath"
14. Staring Down the Barrel - Seen (ANTDrakko) - Trigun - Shindown "45"

Now these are some impressive Romance and Drama videos. Espically Drama my attention was always on the screen for that category because so many of those videos were awsome and not your typical slow paced drama videos which were cool.

And as for romance all of those videos had great romance stories and over half of them (5/7 were fast pace songs, Upbeat). So you can't always judge a category. For you may get videos like these and it could be an interesting category.

Check out these videos if you haven't seen them already and you'll see what I mean.

[Kalium]

Just my experience, in my observations at AMV contests, 'Drama/Romance' as a category (with no further definition) tends to be play on the audience as a 'sit on your hands and wake me when it's over' slot of time. That's why it's often sandwiched between other categories that people are more enthused about - action, effects, comedies, etc.

Having run a contest where drama/romance was the category with the lion's share of entries (over half), I can say that any issue like that is more likely to be in how you arrange the videos than in the content of the videos themselves.

[Geirr]

Not true Otakon 2004 had a very interesting Romance and Drama category.

This is a case of YMMV. ("Your milage may vary.") I wasn't at Otakon though, so I don't want you to feel I'm invalidating your opinion.

However, at the last 3 contests I went to there was a "Drama/Romance" (unmodified) category, and in two, it was obviously the LEAST engaging to the audience (I was studying the way people were sitting in their chairs - how many, if any, were looking down at the floor, etc.) In one contest this category was (ihmo) outright LAME.

So that's why I'm trying to invite the dramatic and emotional works, but I am trying to do so in a way which adds something (and I haven't figureed out what) but something that keeps the audience as engaged as in other categories.

Having run a contest where drama/romance was the category with the lion's share of entries (over half), I can say that any issue like that is more likely to be in how you arrange the videos than in the content of the videos themselves.

Now THIS is intriguing, and please tell me MORE!

If you receive 5 entries the order in which they are run can be devastating to an otherwise decent work. In the past, I have been strictly random, because I don't want to be unfair.

An excellent randomizer is to:
- list the entries, then divide '60' by the number of entries. (Ex: for five entries, it's 1-12sec, 13-24sec, etc to divide one minute into 5 intervals of equal size.)
- Select a word or phrase you know is going to crop up in a meeting or a class.
- When the word crops up, look at your watch second hand. THAT's the AMV that gets picked for number #1.
- You now have FOUR entries to choose for #2, so slice up one minute into 15-second intervals, and repeat.

Not only is this method completely unpredicatable, it gives the appearance of you taking good notes in an otherwise BORING meeting or class!

But seriously, what other methods or tips do you have on selecting the order of AMVs within a category?

- G