-
Akon report.
2003-06-03 21:21:22
Sleep:
Basically got none until I reached the hotel and only got around 4-5 hour intervals of sleep. The first day I drank so much coffee that I was getting tired then waking up again.
-----------
Flights:
The flights went pretty smoothly. The first flight I ended up having the window seat and nobody sat next to me so I was able to put my feet up :) Ended up making a stop in Colorado and the airport smelled like cheese but had very hot flight attendants ;) Since I had to wait for 2 friends to arrive, I was in the DFW airport till 4-5 and I ended up getting lost >_< I can't believe that from Terminal B1, the nearest McDonalds was at terminal B29!
-----------
Friends:
I met up with....
Jon Allen - Pink Hat Guy on DBZ, upcoming voice actor
Jake - NPB (Neverending Post bandits) member and the cameraman
Becky and Amber - 2 girls that ROCK :) and provided transportation
Tim - Staff of Kiji Anime
Mandrew - Fellow spiritdetective.com member
TheQuestion - spiritdetective.com webmaster
Fat Phrank and his girlfriend? - NPB members (I know Phrank is)
Wendall - Fellow spiritdetective.com member
Most of KyleHebert.com's board members
AMV people
Machine - Mindwarp Entertainment
Mandy - Machine's girlfriend
MJ - Random Variable Productions
BigDave - MJ's roommate
Hitori - Hitori Studios
Beowulf and Wonka - Hypodermic Studios
DannyWilson - Mastermind of the MI projects
Blunty - BigDave's Iron chef opponent (2nd time)
Aturo - NERD Studios
RubyEye - Rubyeye Pictures
And the 2 other guys we met in front of the bar
Famous People
Kyle Hebert - Teen Gohan on DBZ
Stephanie Nadolony - Goku on DB, Gohan on DBZ
Steve and Becca - Webmaster of KyleHebert.com and his wife
Chris Bevins - ADR director and Shishiwakamaru on YYH
Scott McNeil - Piccolo
Mike McFarland - Master Roshi
Aaron Davidson - Editor for FUNi
-----------
Transportation:
After meeting up with Jon at the airport, we spent 23 bucks on a shuttle back to our hotel... ugh.... I was able to hitch a ride with Tim
-----------
Hotel:
Comfort Inn is nice... but the aircon is too cold at times.
-----------
Akon:
The con's alot smaller than I thought but was easy, yet crowded to navigate. Best part is food is cheap and there's tons of water everywhere.
-----------
Panels:
- Kyle Hebert.com Panel
AWESOME Panel! We got Jon Allen to sing the Kyle TV theme song and they also showed my Okubo video before we got kicked off the panel for time.
- Voice actor panel
Sat in the back so I couldn't hear much. One asshole cosplaying as Kenshin asks about why FUNimation butchers their anime on A VOICE ACTOR PANEL. Go to hell asswipe >:(
- AMV panel
Yes, there was an amv panel and Hitori and I went to help out with it but Hitori went to the awards ceremony but I decided to stay. When I sat on the panel, I barely got to say anything because the 2 people running it didn't even give me a chance to speak. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt them since they sorta knew what there were talking about. I only got to say around 5 phrases (One being a correction for "Doki Doki Studios" and I said "Productions", saved you there Tim.
With the last 5 minutes, they showed Dragon Bebop Z on the TV but didn't even bother to turn the lights off which made it hard to see. Plus they didn't even give a chance to show Hitori's videos.
- Voice actor recruiting panel
Jon Allen demonstrates his skills as he plays a spanish drug lord or something.... TheQuestion and I get to introduce ourselves to the crowd. Sadly a poor girl who can do the Naga laugh is offended and leaves... I feel sorry for her :(
- Another voice actor panel
Scott McNeil somewhat hogs the spotlight and I'm bitched out for my friend saving me a place in line by a stupid security lady so I tell her off with every Hiei line I can think of.
- Spiritdetective.com panel
Ummmm, not really an official one but since the Jupiter room was empty, TheQuestion and I sat on the panel and 50 people cosplaying as the invisible man attended. :)
-----------
Merchandise:
For the first time in 2 years, I actually buy some DBZ DVDs since they're dirt cheap. Here's all the stuff I picked up...
DVDs
DBZ: Perfect Cell Saga Box Set
- Hunt for 18
- Temptation
- Perfection
- Unstoppable
DBZ: Fusion - Hope Returns
DBZ: Kid Buu - Vegeta's Plea
DBZ: Kid Buu - The Price of Victory
DBZ: Kid Buu - A new beginning
DBZ: Movie 7 - Super Android 13
Yu Yu Hakusho: Fairplay
Yu Yu Hakusho: No Return
FLCL 1
FLCL 2
Fighting Spirit (In Kanji) Headband
Plush Ein for my little sister
-----------
AMV Contest:
Ugh.....
Before the contest started, we were all subjected to this Sailor Moon transformation video to burn time for the contest and it was played REALLY FUCKING LOUD especially with me and the rest of the La Familia sitting up near the front.
The actual contest was pretty bad because all of the videos were put on 1 tape recorded in EP which really screwed over many people especially the Milo brothers. Alot of the videos were from horrible divx sources and some even SHOWED THE DAMN DIVX logo. Some even looked like 160 x 120 rm files blown up to view on a projector screen (I liked that fruits basket video but it looked like a muddy pile of crap visually). My video looked like it went through a blender 35 times and the sound started off low and went normal around the middle. The only video that actually survived the entire recording process was Ikasu's Sin City.
The contest was a pretty big disappointment and their explanation for only accepting VHS is TOTAL BS since they played MJ's moneyshot from his cd.
-----------
AMV Iron Chefs
We went over to MJ's place to hold the AMV Iron chefs. The AMV Iron Chefs are contests where 2 creators get footage and the same song and only have 2 hours to make a video to it.
First Round: Big Dave (GTO) vs. DannyWilson (Blood) - Song: DMX's X is gonna give it you ya
Winner: Big Dave for hilarity
Second Round: Castor Troy (FLCL) vs. Hitori (Excel Saga) - Song: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Winner: Castor Troy, very close competition....
Third Round: BigDave (???) vs. Blunty (???) - Song: ???
Winner: ???
-----------
The bar:
Before HentaiFest, we all stopped by the bar to burn time. MJ treated me out to a drink and we had a great time remeniscing about the old days. Jon Allen was sitting with the Strong Arm production guys filming a doc so Machine and Mandy went to talk to them. Jon Allen did his voices which made Hitori and DannyWilson crack up which will end up as con gold. I also gave a special message to a certain someone on camera. If it makes the doc, you'll find out who it is.... hehe >=)
-----------
HentaiFest:
Crowded and WAAAAY too hot..... However MJ wins the Hentaifest AMV contest with his moneyshot video. MJ tries to shake hands with the other contestant but he blows MJ off. Talk about a poor sport...
-----------
Final moments:
I say goodbye to all of the amv guys in the dealers room, hoping to catch them at AWA if I got the money. Then I head off with Question, Jon, Becky, and amber to the lobby where we meet up with Jake, Phrank, and Kyle Hebert for a last big group picture. I say goodbye to everyone and I'm feeling sad the con was over. ;_;
-----------
Shoutouts:
Friends:
Jon Allen: I thought you would totally mellow out this year because of personal stuff that's happened but damn, you ended up being the life of the party most of the time with you super wacky antics. You even made Hitori and DannyWilson laugh their assess off at the bar.
TheQuestion: You were a bit shy at first but when the 2nd day came around, you acted like you were right at home at with us and it was an absolute blast hanging out with you. You're the damn coolest website boss ever!
Amber and Becky: You crazy girls ROCK! without you 2, Jon and I would have been stranded half the time at our hotel.
Jake: Always great to see you and your crazy camera at the cons. The NPB shirt kicked ass!
Mandrew: Great hanging out with you and wearing our Fighting Spirit headbands together.
Tim: Thanks for driving me around to Whataburger and giving me the 411 on banner ads.
Wendall: I can't believe you made it down to Texas, you're a pretty cool guy and it was hilarious seeing you and Question joyfully bicker :P
Phrank: I didn't talk to you much but you were pretty cool, too bad you and Jake were the only ones representing the NPB.
-----------
AMV guys
Carlos: Awesome to hang with you once again and best of luck in your relationship. Congratulations for winning 2 awards because you're the man!
MJ: Thanks for everything from hosting iron chef at your place, treating me to a drink, and being an awesome guy. I really enjoyed the chat we had at the bar because it totally gave me such a more positive outlook on AMVs in general. BIG props for winning Hentaifest and I feel really bad that the other Hentaifest contestant just blew you off :/ Thanks for everything once more ;)
Mandy: You were pretty damn cool, funny, and wacky. Although your wackiness was too extreme for the anti-social likes of me, it was still a blast hanging out with you. Big thanks for the Coke/Vodka drink which really got me ready for Hentaifest. You know how to make DAMN good.. yet STRONG stuff. Best of luck to you and Carlos.
RubyEye: Didn't talk with you much but your Princess Nine video was cool.
BigDave: Thanks for letting me use your comp for Iron Chef and you GTO video was too fucking hilarious. For the short amount of time you've been editing amvs, you have extremly great talent and you seem to be picking up really fast. Despite the things that went on in the con, I still think you're a pretty damn cool guy. And don't worry, Hitori and I won't give away your important Iron Chef philosophy.
Hitori: Thanks for driving me and the others around Dallas even though we got lost. I have to admit your Iron Chef video was superior to mine in terms of editing and you made it a very close competition. It was fun joining the clap session when your video played. It's too bad you'll be going offline for a bit but good luck with your future projects.
DannyWilson: You were fucking hilarious dude. I kept cracking up when you commented on all the weird Dallas Buildings. You were even more hilarious at HentaiFest. I'll consider joining MI:3 because of what happened to MI:2....
Wonka and Beowulf: It was great hanging with you guys and I feel REALLY bad about the sound problems for the 2nd year in a row....
Blunty: Cool meeting you and I hope I get to see your Iron Chef amv soon.
Other amv guys: Great meeting you all and thanks for the compliments.
----------
Voice Actors/Important People
Kyle Hebert: You sir, are THE MAN! I was a bit nervous to meet you at first because of my fanboyishness but you came across as a normal fun loving guy who's easy to talk to. I even joked around with your last name for a bit... hehehe... Thanks for everything!
Steve and Becca: First of all thanks to Becca for the chewing Gum and big thanks to Steve for showing the Okubo video during Kyle's panel.
Stephanie Nadolony: Hahah, you bumped into me thinking I was someone you knew but I definitely knew who you were. Great meeting you and your Sayonara Bye Bye ROCKS!
Chris Bevins: Love your Shishiwakamaru and I hope I didn't scare you when I went off at the security lady with every Hiei line I could think of.
Scott McNeil: Hi Piccolo.
Mike McFarland: Nice seeing you again and Yajirobe should have beat Cell! Thanks for signing my dvds!
----------
No Thanks to:
Security Lady: I have the power the pull you into oblivion. I assume just my right arm will do.... You should not have insulted the Jagan Eye. Because you see.... In a way it has it's own mind and loathes disrespect! Resisting it is not something I would do....... DRAGON BEBOP....... OF..... THE.... DARKNESS.... FLAME!!!!!
Battousai the manslayer cosplayer at the voice actor panel: Hey asshole, why are you asking about FUNimation dub music changes on A FREAKIN VOICE ACTOR PANEL? DIE BATTOUSAI!
Other HentaiFest Contestant: Your video lacked the sync and skill of MJ's Moneyshot. MJ was even trying to be a nice guy but you blew him off. Talk about a poor sport.
-----------
Everyone else I met: Sorry that I can't remember all of you but thanks for being cool people.
-----------
Reflection:
Wow, I have never had such a GREAT con experience in my entire life.... I even think that this Akon was better then every trip I've ever made to all the Anime Expos I've been to. I had such a great time meeting up with old and new friends alike and the atmosphere of the con was more of a have fun type instead of the business/industry feel. Even though I didn't win anything in the AMV contest, my motivation for AMVs has gotten alot higher thanks to all the awesome people I met. I'm glad that I was able to spend equal time with everybody and also was able to say goodbye to them. I'm definitely looking forward to coming next year and the years afterwards...
Thanks to everyone who made this my greatest con experience ever! -
X finally gave it to us! WHAT?!?
2003-06-02 19:33:00
All 3 of my Akon videos are now up.... locally but my server will come back soon so I can also provide direct links.
The Haunted Ship (Yu Yu Hakusho and Memories): My contest video
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=18272
Okubo: Special video for the KyleHebert.com panel
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=18271
Akon 14 Iron Chef - Margaritaville: Self Explanitory... WORST VIDEO EVER!!!
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=18270
Play nice.
Akon report coming soon! -
X is gonna give it to ya... WHAT?!
2003-06-02 03:36:55
Just got back from akon and I'm still unpacking...
New videos are being uploaded locally... also revealed the new group I joined.
When I said I was being lazy in amvs lately...
.....That was only partially true.
Akon was a fucking BLAST! :D
Will write more when I get sleep...
-
The day of fate has arrived....
2003-05-29 00:24:59
"So you've come back... please tell me you've gotten a little better..."
*serious face*
"Does it hurt? Slacker? Please don't tell me you've come all this way just to give me more of your crap!"
Me: "It's different this time... I promise I'll push as hard as I can...."
In this way, the months have passed and now the time for Akon has arrived. A new adventure begins and what awaits at the doors of Akon? -
Damn.
2003-05-23 23:14:03
I gotta get up early tommorow so I can catch the Ninja Turtles I missed last week and also catch the new episode.... I'll probably see Matrix and Bruce Almighty tommorow too.
Akon's getting pretty close..
JOURNAL: Castor Troy (Ryan Molina)
Current server time: Nov 14, 2025 06:02:02