Otakon AMV Contest Pre-screenings

[hackerzc]

I was just wondering what the policy is on uploading videos to a-m-v.org now that my video has screened.

Meaning, am I not supposed to upload the video until after Otakon? Or, does it not really matter?

You can upload anytime you want. The rules only restrict distribution relating to other conventions.

[anneke]

As I said before, Finals is not an excuse. There are people who don't have finals, who are not in college or beyond such education.

I can't wait to find out the reaction to my video. (Since I stepped out of what I normally make as well this year).

-Anneke

[MousePotato]

speaking of finals! I hope my boring vid makes it just so I can bore the hell out of thousands of people for 3 minutes.

[dwchang]

Sorry, didn't want to get into this argument, but I can't resist. I don't even care much about the deadline since I'm not an AMV creator, but I just want to point out the following:

You're main supporting fact for this however, is that the deadline falls on your finals. Yours maybe... however there are thousands of school in this country and around the world (remember Otakon gets entries from other countries as well), and not everyone has finals at the same time.

No, not everyone has finals at the same time, but that's not a very good counter-argument (even though you've mentioned it more times than I can count). The fact of that matter is that, while not all are the same, a very large majority of American schools have finals in the same 2-week span (things are different in other countries, but we're talking majorities here). You can pretend this isn't the case all you want, but it's still going to be an issue as long as the deadline falls within or directly after that span. If Otakon was in mid-July instead, people would be more understanding, but alas it is not.

As I mentioned, I personally don't have a problem with the deadline since it doesn't directly concern me, but I can certainly see where dwchang and others are coming from.

I do believe this kind fellow has already effectively counter-argued for me. You're also making large generalizations and accusations about my own, apparent, selfish reasons.

A large % of the submitting populace for Otakon is probably in some form of school. Even if this were not true a large submitting % probably is doing something else with their summer and does not want to edit. In fact, many conventions are around the same time and thus people are busy. If you wanna go further many editors ALREADY did edit a ton to meet those summer con deadlines and thus a deadline right after is kind of crazy for them.

I know for a fact a reasonable number of "well known" creators who specifically did not enter because of either the deadline or they disagree with many of the decisions made in the past year. Your argument tyat is is majority FTP is thus not supported.

All I have to use are pure numbers and statistics that support my case and well...talking to the very people who aren't submitting. You on the other hand are just getting flammatory.

Conversely as we received fewer and fewer entries, the quality of those entries has risen (which is the total opposite of what you were saying would happen).
...
The prescreenings aren't even over yet. Let's at least wait until after the contest before you condemn it.

This is quite the opposite of what I am hearing, but I will judge for myself when I see it this Saturday.And for the record I haven't condemned the contest at all. I for one look forward to seeing this contest every year and usually enjoy it and hope for the same this time around as well. It's my only con this year so I can only hope the contest is good.

But of course it's a big deal to you. It's only natural, since you're the one being affected.

Yes, yes! flaming me is certainly the best way to get your point across. Especially when you're putting words in my mouth. WAY TO GO!

And damn. now I have to decide on Chicago Prescreenings vs. Party Cove at the lake of the Ozarks...... hmmmm......

Wait you live in Chicago?!

If it'll help get ya out there, Myself and Bobbyukun are going. I think Bobbyukun is running the thing. I imagine instead of a draw this will seal the deal for Party Cove

Hope to see you there?

[hackerzc]

Yes, yes! flaming me is certainly the best way to get your point across. Especially when you're putting words in my mouth. WAY TO GO!

*sigh* I actually wasn't flaming you. I was only saying that since you have been effected by the deadline you obviously have a greater interest in the subject than someone who was uneffected by it. It simply means you have a personal involvement. As do I, which is why we keep arguing this back and forth, neither of us letting up.

So ya know what.. I'm going to end it. All I've been saying the entire time is what I know to be the truth from the work I have done, and what people have told me.
You keep telling me I'm wrong, well fine then, I'm wrong.

You are absolutely correct. The deadline is a serious issue that is ruining the contest and as a result we will make changes next year to help alleviate the situation.
If there is anything else I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.

[BasharOfTheAges]

Oh yeah... I also remember Antonio saying that he would make special allowances for people. No one took advantage of that BTW. Just so everyone knows.

Well, I did.

Although i'm non-competing anyways because my vid premiered a while ago, so I guess that only kinda counts...

[hackerzc]

Oh yeah... I also remember Antonio saying that he would make special allowances for people. No one took advantage of that BTW. Just so everyone knows.

Well, I did.

Although i'm non-competing anyways because my vid premiered a while ago, so I guess that only kinda counts...

Well that was for non-comp entries anyway (which DID received an extension as they would not effect production of the prescreening materials).
Non-comp videos go directly to overflows since they don't need to be voted on.

Antonio also said we would allow people with extenuating circumstances the chance to get their entry in a bit late if they went to him. That's the thing no one used.

[BasharOfTheAges]

Oh yeah... I also remember Antonio saying that he would make special allowances for people. No one took advantage of that BTW. Just so everyone knows.

Well, I did.

Although i'm non-competing anyways because my vid premiered a while ago, so I guess that only kinda counts...

Well that was for non-comp entries anyway (which DID received an extension as they would not effect production of the prescreening materials).

That's where the confusion came from then. I actually emailed Antonio to submit the non-competing video due to severe weather issues in my home state.

Since you mentioned the non-competing videos and decided to include their number in the total earlier when you were talking about prescreening, I guess I should ask "Did you screen those too?" It seems silly to do so, but who knows.

[hackerzc]

Oh yeah... I also remember Antonio saying that he would make special allowances for people. No one took advantage of that BTW. Just so everyone knows.

Well, I did.

Although i'm non-competing anyways because my vid premiered a while ago, so I guess that only kinda counts...

Well that was for non-comp entries anyway (which DID received an extension as they would not effect production of the prescreening materials).

That's where the confusion came from then. I actually emailed Antonio to submit the non-competing video due to severe weather issues in my home state.

Since you mentioned the non-competing videos and decided to include their number in the total earlier when you were talking about prescreening, I guess I should ask "Did you screen those too?" It seems silly to do so, but who knows.

Na, the non-competing videos will be going right into the overflows.
Like you said it's kinda silly to screen those too since we don't need anyone to review them.

[Illia Sadri]

Exactly (screwups are the #2 reason for fewer entries, right after FTP). From what I was told last year everything was working fine before the convention. I was also under the assumption the coordinator was using a Netstream 2000 (if it plays correctly once, it'll play correctly a hundred times).
However a Netstream was NOT being used and that's what caused the problem at Fridays showing. I was told everything else ran fine the rest of the weekend.
In 2004 I don't remember any at-con issues (aside from me not being able to do the AMV Workshop), though there were a LOT of pre-con problems. Mostly the coordinator that year wasn't doing anything, was never around, and even I could not get a hold of him.
Now Antonio, while he may not be very public is at least easy to reach, and actually does the job. The only BIG issue he's ever had was the tech issue on Friday last year that I spoke about above.
That being said, the contest has bought a Netstream 2000 and I personally gave it to him. I also got one for myself so I can proof things before they go to him (a double check system).
With any luck, the only thing to screw up this years contest will be either loosing power to the BCC, or if the contest computer is stolen. Neither of which are even remotely likely.

Words of advice from someone who has run amv contests for conventions... never bank on one specific piece of equipment. Always have a backup. If you don't plan for it, the worst will happen.

Prepare for what if the computer running the thing and has the card goes out. What do you do then? For Tekkoshocon I keep the contest on 2 hd's just in case one goes down. I keep a copy of vlc availiable in case I have issues where I need to use another computer and am uncertain how a specific program will handle mpeg2 playback. I also had authored dvd's which, were mildly messed up in the bumpers primarily, was yet another way to play the videos if there were massive equipment failures.

Moral of the story is always have plan b and even plan c ready. Particularly with a convention on the scale of Otakon.

And, yes, having ftp does get you more submissions. Just ask Vlad for Anime Evolution and I can confirm that most of my entries for Tekkoshocon were from ftp. It says a lot when significantly smaller conventions are getting a great deal of entries because basically the cons like Otakon has screwed up enough times on enough factors.