LIVE BLOGGING from the AMV Judges Panel Event!

[Prinz Eugen]

I did this last year and most people enjoyed reading the highlights.

I was up till about 3:45am, finishing all the downloads and categorizing.
Then clean-up and prep for the judges, and I also need to write the names of all SEVENTY-ONE ENTRIES on index cards so the judges can shuffle them between categories and the ever-voracious wastebasket at the end of the table.

We also got 71 entries last year!

STATES:
California
Illinois
Tennesee
Texas
Oregon
Washington

CANADA:
Alberta
British Columbia

From Across the Ocean:
Bulgaria
France
Hungary
Morocco
Tatarstan
Ukraine

----------------------

Total duration of 3hr 43min 12sec for all AMVs received.
(But the contest runs 90min - 110min long, though!)

ANIME SERIES RECEIVED (not counting 'Various')

Ai Yori Aoshi
Angelic Layer
Baby Blue
Baccano
Berserk
Blood; The Last Vampire
Casshern Sins
Chaos Head
Code Geass (2)
Crest of the Stars
Death Note (5)
El Hazard
Full Metal Alchemist
Gate Keepers
Gravion
Great Teacher Onizuka
Kaleido Star
Kanon
Kara no Kyokai
Kidou Senshi Gundam (2)
Kodomo no Jikan
Kodomo no Omocha
Michiko to Hachin
Nana
Naruto (2)
Noir
One Piece
Outlaw Star (2)
Pani Poni Dash
Puni Puni Poemi
Romeo x Juliette
School Rumble (2)
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu (2)
Street Fighter
Soul Eater
Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan
Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo
Tokyo Godfathers
Tokyo Mew Mew
Transformers
Uchuu Senkan Yamato
Utawarerumono
Vampire Hunter D (2)
Vandread

FOURTY - FOUR Shows!!!


Entries by Category:

Japanese Music - 4
Tension - 6
Genki - 10
Retro - 6
Random - 10
Trailers - 10
Action - 11
No Category Selected* - 14

* Some entrants wish the judges to suggest categories.
Or if there is a 'pattern in there,' the judges may even
create a new category on the spot to showcase some
of these works.

Checking back in between 11am and Noon,
STAY TUNED!!!

[rollthestampede]

I emailed you to clear up some of the submission confusion.

Yeah Shining Finger were the big procrastinators so shoot us, those deadlines are there for a reason dang it.

[Prinz Eugen]

Thanks - got the off-line data and I'll take care of that.

Meanwhile it's To Aru Majutsu no Index card writing time.
(The cards don't have creator identification on them, just title, anime used, music, duration, and categories.)

Further news in about 90 min or earlier.

[thundercatlord]

I love this live blogging thing you do.... *on edge of seat*

[Prinz Eugen]

The judges are first looking into a directory of 14 submissions for which no categories were declared.
They will see which of these may fit into the already established categories.

I will fire up the grill in about an hour from now, meanwhile I am filtering through the stuff for the AMV Show which will follow the contest.
I have some thick cuts which have marinated overnight in bulgogi sauce (korean) and some hot banana / asian pear puree.
There's also a bag of nicely waterlogged mesquite chunks and I will be using minced garlic applied directly onto hardwood embers for smoking.

Two judges will be arriving late, but the rest of the crew is starting the initial winnowing.

More news as it breaks.

[Prinz Eugen]

ONE entry from the "You Pick it" directory has been rescued from the damned - it will go into "Japanese Music!"

Hardwood charcoal is alight; and a 2007 Chinon Rose (Loire Valley) is chilling.
I have ash and pepper wrapped goat cheese to match, if the judges call for it.

[Prinz Eugen]

TWO OUT of FOURTEEN were saved for further review - the other one qualified as Retro!

Contest duration now cut to 3hr 9min 17sec.

Goal is 1hr 30min ~ 1hr 50min range.

SLOW, smmmmmmoldering, mesquite smmmmoking cuts are  holding at 200F.

[Prinz Eugen]

And a few more of the flock get shot down.

There are about four which have really got the judges STUMPED.
"Action" or "Tension?" and "Action" vs "Genki" have some discussions fired up.

Classic Quote: "Hmm, this editor is thinking: 'I made this for some other con, and I put so much work into it that I'll send it to you anyways even though it doesn't really fit any of YOUR categories...' " BOUNCED. Gone.

[thundercatlord]

Classic Quote: "Hmm, this editor is thinking: 'I made this for some other con, and I put so much work into it that I'll send it to you anyways even though it doesn't really fit any of YOUR categories...' " BOUNCED. Gone.

 

[Prinz Eugen]

'Genki' had them stumped, too.

They're moving on to TRAILERS.
And here, I have a snare for them.
I have three or four from the SAME popular movie.

So in the words of the venerable Collum McLeod of the Clan McLeod:
"There can BE only ONE."

Meanwhile there's ANOTHER tussle: Pirates vs Ninjas!

Beaf is done and delicious. Adding some grilled greens and shoulder cuts of GOAT meat.
This too, can be quite lovely. Not to mention that our own goats are downwind and the smell freaks them out.
But that's OK; it reminds them that as animals they are chattel.

[superjaz]

Beaf is done and delicious. Adding some grilled greens and shoulder cuts of GOAT meat.
This too, can be quite lovely. NOt to mentio our own goats are downwind and the smell freaks them out.
But that's OK; it reminds them that as animals they are chattel.

YAY!!!!! ...
goat try'ed to eat me once at knotts petting zoo

anywho

chris wishes he could have made this, also wishes he could have gotten an entery in, but he has been really busy with some computer classes after a full day of work, enter the famous words...
there is always next year

[Prinz Eugen]

The have SLAUGHTERED "Random Amusement" and left only FOUR FINALISTS STANDING!!!



(Looks around at smoldering craters in the category...)

PS the above photo is not from a war, but from one of the first well-known industrial accidents involving ammonium nitrate unknowingly mixed with petroleum oil to the magic ratio of 4% by volume.

[murder_of_raven]

"They're moving on to TRAILERS.
And here, I have a snare for them.
I have three or four from the SAME popular movie."

I'm guessing I know the movie and that my video is 1/3. I knew that trailer would become a competition in its own right. @__@ Hoping/wishing I'm in the show...

[Prinz Eugen]

I am picking vids for the Main Show, and I'm screening a techno-trance Action style vid from Brazil.
Suddenly the judges notice  - "Hey, look what HE'S watching - the music FITS!!!"

And so it did!
Both AMVs switched to mecha at the same time!
Synching of the music was PERFECT as a Guitar Hero combo!
Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang! Right on the money with two simultaneous sets of combat scenes!

Male mech pilot guy screams on the candidate screen / My screen has a scream from Meg in Bakuretsu Tenchi
I'm a nightmare ... Tenma from School Rumble!
Not a hero ... ZERO from Code Geass hits the screen RIGHT on the beat!

One Judge jokes: "Can you ask this guy to drop that other footage onto his AMV instead?"

They all cracked up.

OK - back to serious now.

[Prinz Eugen]

I'm guessing I know the movie and that my video is 1/3. I knew that trailer would become a competition in its own right. @__@ Hoping/wishing I'm in the show...

Well, it turns out I counted wrong.
Two from Movie #1 and two from a different Movie #2 but with a SIMILAR PLOT.

But the SAME TRAILER ANNOUNCER-GUY VOICE "In a world..."

In any case they still skipped it for now - there will be some tough decisions when they revisit.

[murder_of_raven]

Well, it turns out I counted wrong.
Two from Movie #1 and two from a different Movie #2 but with a SIMILAR PLOT.

But the SAME TRAILER ANNOUNCER-GUY VOICE "In a world..."

In any case they still skipped it for now - there will be some tough decisions when they revisit.
[/quote]

Oh? Well I guess I'm wrong. My doesn't have an announcer... It's so nerve-wracking that whatever the decisions made are, those of us who submitted won't know for almost 2 months!

[Prinz Eugen]

They did it!

We have a NINETY-NINE minute AMV Contest.
I congratulate the judges!

The judges are now ordering the AMVs within each category,
and they will finish by ordering the categories themselves.

EDIT: They have declared a Judges' Choice selection, "because this way we get to inflict PAIN on the entire audience..."

Then a round of good-byes and they depart for the four winds.

MY NEXT job is to come up with a half hour to 45min Pre-Show, and a 77min AMV show to follow the contest.
I *will* tell you this - the Show ender I selected is EXTREMELY SILLY!!

OK gang that's pretty much it for this year;
I may visit or pop in a few more times this evening to answer questions,
but otherwise WE are DONE and READY!!!

[Prinz Eugen]

Japanese Music - 4
Tension - 4
Genki - 4
Retro - 6
Trailers - 5
Random Amusement - 3
Action / Effects - 6

TOTAL 32 AMVs in the playlist.

Slightly fewer than HALF of the entries received were selected.

Worst judges' comment heard all day:
"Can we rename this one I Can Has Windows Movie Maker?"

If you find out you missed the boat this year, don't give up.
I saw one submitter try '07 and '08 - nothing. But persistence
paid off THIS year, along with improved effects, video quality,
and new approaches to subject matter and category definitions.
Looking forward to the AMV Contest and Show!

(3-Aug, Edit: - I counted wrong; two directories each have TWO versions of the SAME AMV, one at 30fps and the other at 60fps. During on-site testing, before the Preshow, we will determine if the system on site will handle the 60fps versions. If not we have the 30fps versions as backups. But that means these got counted TWICE in their categories. Tallies have been fixed. New final timing may be posted on the day I post the final playlist. Sorry about the flurp-up.)

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

Oh man... I hate not knowing... especially since I only had a week because my program didn't get here until a week before, so I only got one completely done. T.T

I so hope the WMM comment wasn't about mine... My Adobe, as it turns out, didn't liek the footage or music I had, so the only one I got done was made in WMM... well, part of it was anyway; I tried to edit in in Adobe after and then AviSynth and VDub and... and... *freaks out*

[somanyturtles]

So freaked out right now! Im pretty sure that one of those similar trailers is mine and being that its the first AMV i ever made I dont know if mine got it. Errrr!!!!!

Either way congrads to those who made it (even though we dont know who actually made it...) It should be a great show anyway! I really want to see if Thundercatlord can protect his full sweep from last year's contest.

[murder_of_raven]

Either way congrads to those who made it (even though we dont know who actually made it...) It should be a great show anyway! I really want to see if Thundercatlord can protect his full sweep from last year's contest.

...I wouldn't be surprised. Few of us can compete with him and I know for sure I'm not one of them. Although, I know that RolltheStampede was talking about entering, he might be some real competition. ::nodnod::

[somanyturtles]

Yeah, I heard that too, i heard there were a few vetterans entering this year, thats why im courious to see id TCL can do it.

[thundercatlord]

Either way congrads to those who made it (even though we dont know who actually made it...) It should be a great show anyway! I really want to see if Thundercatlord can protect his full sweep from last year's contest.

...I wouldn't be surprised. Few of us can compete with him and I know for sure I'm not one of them. Although, I know that RolltheStampede was talking about entering, he might be some real competition. ::nodnod::

Hehe...thanks guys...you know this kind of makes me feel like Mr. Satan (Hercule) from DBZ, what with all the veteran editors this year. Only difference is Mr. Satan could never hold his own vs the Z fighters. I on the other hand say BRING IT ON! WHOOO!

[rollthestampede]

Say hello to the Z fighters  
Removed Picture due to Inapropriate Content: Allykat

haha i didnt know you swept last year, thats pretty funny cause that pic was from the year i swept Akon.

2 Sweepers head to head the only way to settle this is in the Iron Chef.

I shall be waiting for you on the battle field.

Good luck to all who made it.

[Prinz Eugen]

I so hope the WMM comment wasn't about mine...

No, it actually it wasn't aimed at a specific AMV. The judges (on a break) were talking about the generic situation of having to watch pixellated crud made from marginal-quality fansubs or worse...

Other fun quotes I recall:

"Can we chose a 'WORST Submission?' "
(My answer: "No.")

"Hey Wow, *nobody* submitted a Final Fantasy video?!? That's Wonderful!"

"Can we nominate the entire RETRO category as Judges Choice? They ALL rock!"

"Uggh... I want my [xx]min and [yy]seconds of my life back..."

"How about 'Random' and 'Extremely Random?' "

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

I would have submitted an FF one, but ran out of time. XD I was half-way done with it~

[rollthestampede]

hmm i just realized Revenge of Mr Roboto would fit in the retro category, oh well there goes that, good thing i didnt submit to it

edit:
Unless of course Beast Wars messed it up, I cant remeber when that came out.

TCL
Did you hold onto all of those rotoscopes?

[somanyturtles]

Actually Revenge of Mr. Transformer is way over time limit for this con. I know that TCL submitted it but its all about if the judges thought it didnt feel like it was too long. The other thing is one of the rules for "Retro" is 'song before 1983' ( or something like that) and the song was made in 1983 (or whenever the date cutoff was). So we may not actually see that video.

[rollthestampede]

so I have to ask if you had to cut any videos for borderline content? 

[Prinz Eugen]

A couple were FAR over the border. This usually happens with international submissions where (depending upon where they are from) people are a lot more open in their speech and in what they put on TV over there. So they don't really know what "PG-13" means and we get this half-naked bloody horror stuff with boobs and nipples and 12 - 20 units of flying, splattery blood per scene.

NOT COOL for the HOTEL, so those get bounced and some of them hit the LATE show.
(... as long as they're actually entertaining to boot...)

Most of the cuts were due to TIME - 3hrs 43 min cut down to 1hr 39min this year.
And when cuts need to be made, those 4min:50sec, 5Min:15sec submissions make awfully juicy targets UNLESS they:
- HOLD THE INTENSITY throughout, and
- Don't REPEAT yourself / keep developing NEW material each time the chorus comes around.

We had one +5min vid where the judges felt that at 4min, 'wow this feels like only two min,' and another +5min vid where they said that by the time 1:35 rolled around - 'OK this guy's shot his load... he's just repeating himself for the rest of the long slog...' and that one was canned.

A total of FOUR AMVs over 5min were received and ONE was selected.

The longest AMV that judges had ever passed (in Kumoricon) was in 2007, where one vid was like 6min 36sec.

Now, one guy had a LONG project and submitted the first 4min 40sec to Kumoricon.
An interesting technique, but the song just stops in the middle of the

[rollthestampede]

SO these nipples you speak of, if they were covered they would be ok right?

[somanyturtles]

*facepalm*

[Prinz Eugen]

... if they were covered they would be ok right?

Here you go: http://www.mpaa.org/flmrat_ratings.asp

I let the collective opinion of the judges' panel make their final determinations, but basically you get ONE swear-word and ONE 'brief' exposure per AMV. Elsewhere, I found that the MPAA defines 'brief' as 1/5th of a second. That's 6 frames at 30fps, and when you see it, it's almost like the old subliminal ads they banned (sometime before I was born, I don't care the exact year.)

Other than that, the judges' directive is to select 2 to 6 AMVs per category so that the entire show is as ENTERTAINING as possible to EVERYBODY. That's as far as I go. It's been my observation that panelists have sensed in themselves that the laughter generated by risque scenes arises in part from personal embarrassment rather than genuine mirth, and in a comedic competition I have observed that they have tended to select for the 'cleaner' of two when forced to eliminate from among leading contenders.

So - keeping 'em covered is 'OK' but that just gets you in the door and on the initial playlist - from there on in, an AMV that most everybody ENJOYS for much of its duration will beat out an AMV where some people find themselves disturbed at a scene or two.** This makes sense because in the second case, the total energy of the audience would fall, while some people disengage and shut down for a bit, while in the first case the audience energy remains high - and that's what we want in the end: a maximum number of energetic, entertained people.

** Note: One MAJOR EXCEPTION is when a category DEFINITION is designed to disturb. Some AMV competitions have had 'Horror' and 'Emo' as categories. We haven't tried those here (yet.)

[RemSaverem]

I have to giggle at the idea of a deliberate "emo" category for amvs. Perhaps we could somehow sync that up with Kate's new Creation Station performance event, "Old, Bad [Fan]Fic".....oy vey, I'm already cringing at the angst

[Prinz Eugen]

Perhaps we could somehow sync that up with Kate's new Creation Station performance event, "Old, Bad [Fan]Fic".....

I already have an ENTIRE DIRECTORY of AMVs - - -

- - - named "PAIN."  :-)

[somanyturtles]

An "Emo" catagory would be horrible! I'd be full of Sasuke videos.... uhhhh I dont even want to think about it.

[Prinz Eugen]

An "Emo" catagory would be horrible! I'd be full of Sasuke videos....

And Ikari Shinji, and...

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

... Cloud and...
... Squall and...

XD

[somanyturtles]

Im pretty sure we han ass all the main FF characters to the list...

...and..

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

Hmm... actually, you could probably add them all BUT Zidane. XD Hell, even Tidus... >.>

By the way, will we be waiting until the day before to see the playlist up on here like last year?

[Prinz Eugen]

By the way, will we be waiting until the day before to see the playlist up on here like last year?

YES!

Isn't that PART of the FUN?!?!

I usually post the final playlist on the first day of the con.
Then the winners go up within hours of my receiving the ballot results.

The judges made a directory in my computer called "The Judges' Wastebasket,"
and I might run that in one of the other video rooms.

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

'Judges Wastebasket'?

[Prinz Eugen]

'Judges Wastebasket'?

***I*** didn't name it....!

Please don't bludgeon me!...

[murder_of_raven]

'Judges Wastebasket'?

***I*** didn't name it....!

Please don't bludgeon me!...

Hahaha yeah it does come across a little harsh. It's like, oh yeah, and these AMVs are garbage.... actually, it'd kinda be fun to do an anti-award contest for these. Maybe with write-in categories so we could end up with ridiculous things like "worst use of the color blue".

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

YES!

Isn't that PART of the FUN?!?!

By the way, forgot to add this but...
YOU ENJOY OUR TORTURE, DON'T YOU?! XD

[Prinz Eugen]

YOU ENJOY OUR TORTURE, DON'T YOU?! XD

Actually, for the past three years (this year included) the AMVs eliminated at the LAST round aren't badly made or obviously ho-hum. We still had some pixellated-crud and left-the-subtitles-in entries, but those get pruned in the first round.

But by the last round we're looking at a set of candidate AMVs that are all fundamentally good works, and when those get clipped I feel a kind of loss. ("Hey, those are my friends!") Especially if it's someone in a city I've never heard of, and we trade a couple of e-mails; what's it like over there, where do you get your anime, is there cosplay, what's your favourite local dish, club, hangout, etc...

One thing that feels good though is to see someone who's submitted for one or two years and not gotten anything selected, but the quality is improving, unique ideas, and he or she is STILL submitting  -  and one of those gets picked. I feel: "Hooray for persistence." The attitude that will keep you going during a spell of unemployment, for example - to keep on making those calls and gathering new leads...

Then knowing that the final play list really is entertaining and creative;  (especially while I am sampling clips and patching together the category reviews,) ... people out there are doing such cool things...

THAT's what I enjoy...