OTAKON: Prescreenings, or later Deadline?

[hackerzc]

So the question has come up as to which is better, a later deadline (where a group of judges decide who makes it in the contest), or the prescreening method we have employed for the past few years?

There are both good and bad reasons for choosing either one, but I'd like to see what everyones personal views are before a decission is made.

The official thread for this is located on Otakon BBS here: http://board.otakon.com/viewtopic.php?p=136373#136373

[Squancho]

I'd go for a later deadline. If what I heard about the AMV producers making the decisions through these pre-screenings is true, I, for one, would be unable to defend my belief that my work deserves to be included on the final ballot because of scheduling and transportation restrictions. I also feel the judging would be slanted too much toward technical merit and skill and not enough on base entertainment value or relevance to the respective category.

Also, the submission deadlines as they are now tend to be ridiculously far away from the start of 'kon. If the event opens July 20, I think June 16 would be a fair cutoff date. Wouldn't five weeks be plenty of time to put the final entries together?

[Scintilla]

I also feel the judging would be slanted too much toward technical merit and skill and not enough on base entertainment value or relevance to the respective category.

I'd like to say that the video's content is more important than video quality in determining how well an AMV does at the prescreenings.

But then I remember that they tend to go hand in hand: in two years (2004 and 2005) of attending the Otakon prescreenings (and thus watching every single video submitted in both those years), I can only remember one of them that I thought was good enough to break despite having noticeably subpar video (AND audio) quality, and that was Gene Starwind 21122's "Fighting For Your Love" or whatever the hell it was called (Slayers/"Glory of Love").
However, that might be because that was the only one that actually DID break; I tend to forget about the ones that didn't, unless they really stood out to me (like "Git-r-done" (what does that even <i>mean?</i>) and the one to the "Angry White Boy Polka" from 2005 that ended with Lupin III, Cowboy Bebop, and FLCL (why is that not on the Org?!); I thought both of those should have broken, but I guess it was just a very good year for Humorous/Satirical).

Anyway, I'm actually going to put in a vote for keeping the prescreenings, because I feel that keeping the process in the hands of the editors and fans is in keeping with Otakon's general philosophy of letting the fans rule. Also, I feel that getting input from so many viewers rather than a handful of judges will give us a better representation of what the fans (in general) want to see.

Also, I personally happen to enjoy attending the prescreenings. (Though when did the prescreenings become open to the general public? When I started attending in 2004, it was just those who submitted and the members of the local anime clubs hosting the screenings who were invited to attend.)

[hackerzc]

If the event opens July 20, I think June 16 would be a fair cutoff date. Wouldn't five weeks be plenty of time to put the final entries together?

There are other deadlines to be considered, for instance printing deadlines for ballots which are typically 2-3 weeks before the con (and this is a last call type thing). No matter what you do that time can't be changed, and will always play a part in when the deadline is.
June 16th may be a bit late, but some time in early June would not. That's without prescreenings. With prescreenings would tack on a couple more weeks since prescreenings just take extra time to do (shipping tapes, getting results, going through those results, etc).
Just some things to keep in mind.

[anneke]

I've heard bad things about the screens. It's a good idea but I think has been abused. A well rounded group of strangers for a judging panel should be fine. But I don't care either way. If people can't make the deadline that's their own fault.

-Anneke

[Squancho]

As I said, as a producer, my main concern with pre-screenings is not having any say in which ones should pass due to my difficulties with transportation. I don't have the eyes to legally operate a motor vehicle, therefore I'm stuck at home when (I feel) there needs to be a voice for artistry and entertainment value rather than mere skill and technique. Sure, the two sides go together, but too often the right balance isn't achieved. As a result, we get AMVs that either look pretty but are bland or the editing was either lacking or excessive in spite of the video being well-thought out and even moving.

Maybe I'm rambling, and it wasn't until recently that I realize how "serious" the field of AMV production and competition is. But I see this as the root of the problem: people too often taking this whole thing too seriously. I'm in this to have fun and entertain as many people as possible.

And that's where my vote and voice would go: in favor of the videos I had fun viewing. But alas, I won't have the chance to help those AMVs be seen by the fans. This is why I'd rather have a well-rounded panel of judges determine the field rather than spend the extra time arranging and executing pre-screenings. I'd just feel more comfortable about my and others' chances of getting on the ballot.

[Adv1sor]

Some people will complain no matter what deadline you offer.

You've given us half a year for 2007 and people are still complaining, right?

I say stick with the prescreenings.

If you really want a fair contest then take off the editors names at the prescreenings and, at the AMV contest itself, don't allow anyone to enter the room after the start of the first AMV and only give out ballots to those who are there at the end of the last AMV.

I thought the main focus was supposed to be on fun and entertainment, not competition

[Scintilla]

I thought the main focus was supposed to be on fun and entertainment, not competition

Of course, they're not mutex -- if done right, the competition <i>adds</i> to the fun and entertainment.

[hackerzc]

On behalf of myself and the entire AMV Contest staff I would like to thank everyone who participated in this topic. Your input will be of great use in the decision making process to come and aid us in creating the 2007 AMV Contest Rules.

[MousePotato]

sup guys. not sure if ill be competing this year but GL anyhowz.