Otakon AMV Contest (Room Confirmed)

hackerzc · Post by **hackerzc** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:39 am

I've spoken with Programming and Logistics about the room for the AMV Contest, and from the look of things it will indeed be located in Video 7 (750 seats).
There are currently two contest screenings scheduled, one on Friday evening and the other Saturday afternoon. We will try to get as many people in to each screening as we possibly can, however due to the popularity of the AMV contest not everyone who wants to get in may be able to.
My recommendation to anyone wishing to get in, is to arrive an hour (or more) prior to the event in order to grab a good spot in line. Staff is anticipating a large interest in the event.
We are also exploring the possibility of doing a simulcast if space to do so becomes available, however this may not end up being a viable option.

On behalf of the entire contest staff I apologize for the inconvenience this will cause. The entire staff understands the large interest in the AMV Contest, and we have explored all possibilities in the matter, however by time this situation was brought to light I was told it was simply too late to have anything changed.

WalterScott · Post by **WalterScott** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:44 am

So, at the very most 1500 attendees out of 25000, less than 7%, will be able to see the contest???

Sounds like a recipe for disaster. You're going to have literally thousands of pissed off attendees. Not to mention the creators. The whole point of having a contest in a large convention where so many people can see the videos is completely nullified. Good luck in getting enough entries next year to fill the time slot.

So if you've chopped what used to be main events into pieces, why not use one of the large basement spaces? I can't believe that AMV's are so poorly regarded by the programming staff that you can't pull some weight and get a larger room.

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:02 am

Walter is 100% right- this is going to end badly. Otakon is (and generally prides itself on being) one of the largest conventions in the country and certainly in the region- and yet more people could see the AMV contest at Anime Boston in a single showing than will be able to in the entire convention at Otakon- and Boston is roughly 1/3 the size of Otakon. Hell, Tekkoshocon (<3000 attendees) had a room that held around 750 for its contest. Whoever decided this either flunked basic math, hates the Otakon attendees (or the AMV editors), is a flaming moron- or all of the above. The ONLY things that draw as many or more people at Otakon as AMVs are the Masquerade and the big-name concerts (like L'Arc). If they're going to be this stupid, they may as well have just canceled the whole thing and saved a lot of us the time and money of attending.

I don't have any doubt that the contest staff has done everything they can to get this changed and moved to a decent sized room- you guys no doubt realize how much of a problem this is as well- so complaining to you is not really going to get anywhere. I want to know who to contact on the Otakon staff that was and is responsible for this to be able to voice my considerable displeasure at the treatment the contest is getting room-wise this year. And please don't just say to go to the con gripe session after the convention- it's just not practical time-wise for me because of travel, and I have no intention of letting them sit back and not get hell for this both before and through the duration of the convention.

MousePotato · Post by **MousePotato** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:22 am

honestly im disgusted but this. This is an insult to every creator out there. We put so much time and effort to create these videos to only have them down played by the con. Considering the costume contest was moved out side to an even BIGGER place they mite as well slap us in the face and call us second rate. I'm seriously considering not submitting next year because apart from the amv coordinators, Otakon has lost all respect from me.

There is no excuses to destroy one of the largest attractions of the convention. Surely this will compromise the number of submissions next year.

MeriC · Post by **MeriC** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:33 am

So, Cosplay gets its own friggin' arena, and the AMV contest gets peanuts. Way to be fair, Otakon planning staff. Nice knowing where their preference lies.

MousePotato · Post by **MousePotato** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:39 am

we should grab all the amv creators and raid the Staff's after party "Dead Dog" with silly string and strawberry jelly dressed up as Naruto ninjas. Sure, there will be innocent bystanders (John) but sacrifices must be made for the greater of the revolution!

MousePotato · Post by **MousePotato** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:45 am

John, with your permission I would like to start a petition to be given to the Con Chair at closing ceremonies. I'll stop bitching but I'm NOT going to let this slide. It will be all their fault when some emo otaku gets his fragile form trampled by a million masquerade hating amv supporters.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:49 am

Wow. All I can say is "wow." I'd suggest anyone that's actually in the contest to speak out against this treatment in anyway they can, including asking their videos be pulled from the line-up in protest.

ReligionX · Post by **ReligionX** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:28 am

BasharOfTheAges wrote:Wow. All I can say is "wow." I'd suggest anyone that's actually in the contest to speak out against this treatment in anyway they can, including asking their videos be pulled from the line-up in protest.

Oh, I can't see that doing anybody any favors. I already offered to drop out of the contest and help the staff somehow. This would cause a "conflict of interest" if I were to help out the staff. I didn't hear back from them one way or the other. I don't expect to.

I don't really think that I am going to win my category in this contest. I think I've got a decent video, but after seeing what else is playing, I'm just being realistic. I don't actually know what category my video is going to be under. I wouldn't mind dropping out, but unless everyone drops out, it'll just look bad. We'll look like the guys that are "ruining it for everyone else." If only 5 people drop out, I'm sure that they have backup videos from the pre-screening they can insert, I'm sure. Even if only 1,500 people see the videos, that's still 1,500 people! And maybe if Voltron Cardboard Box Man gets in there, they may only be able to fit 1,497 people, but that's still a lot!

Who knows what is really going on in the staff room. If we riot, they may say, "we knew we were right about you people," and give us an even smaller room next year, or cancel the contest all together. Or maybe they are messing with us, "Ho! Ho! Gotcha good!" and throw us in the Mariner Arena.

Something's better than nothing, and we can all upload our videos to animemusicvideos.org and just hand out fliers with links to download our videos. It's a craptastic way to let people see our videos, but who knows. Maybe it will build more interest for next year. As long as there is a contest for Otakon 2007, 2008, 2009, and so on, I plan to submit a video.

Jefferys · Post by **Jefferys** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:01 am

What's bad enough is that I've heard through the grapevine something unconfirmed that the Iron Editor challenge workshop is scheduled against one of the Red Apple panels...

Now this may have been changed or a complete falsehood, but if this is the truth, I know that Alan's going to be one pissed off guy...

If programming/scheduling staff are taking some mind-altering drugs concerning this, I'd certainly want some right now...