AX2007 aftermath - The curse of Long Beach returns

[Vlad G Pohnert]

As for what an anime Con is, it's an event for the FANS and was never intended for the benefit of the con organizers, staff or who ever else controls it (this seems to be a golden point that has been forgotten).

You are only half right.

Anime Expo positions itself as an event for fans, and as an event for industry. If you look at the program schedule, you'll actually see a few industry-only events at the convention.

But the "industry" should cater to the fans (even more so here in North America)... Anime is a still mainly a nitch market here support for the most part by fans not main stream average Joes...

If the industry is forming AX to what it wants for it's own benefit, then fans come second and it's failed in my opinion and should just become a trade show! Otakon is slmost just as big and it still retains is fan roots. You should really go to it and see for yourself, the whole atmosphere is much more fan like... Yes, I do realize all big cons have problems and politics (We are all human), but it's the focus I'm talkign about

Anyway not to diverge from the thread, the point here is if AX wants to cater more to the industry, then there is NO room for the AMV contest as it's totaly fan based and as such maybe should not bother with it as fans aren’t that important to them anyway it seems. Just leave contest to the fan run cons that still care about them so maybe it's just as well (I think Pwolf pretty much says the same thing )


Vlad

[dokool]

Out of curiousity, did James ever post to this forum? It seems odd that for a contest as big as AX's there's no communication from the head of the contest on the biggest AMV-related forum there is.

[anneke]

Again, I must say... Why should the staff want to keep the AMVs, when they are so badly run/handled. James can fight for them all he wants, but how can you (or the AX powers that be) take him serious when the contest is handled so badly. How can he make a good arguement for keeping the contest when it handled so badly and just makes the convention look bad as a results. WE (The amv creators and such) know problems happen and such, but the AX Powers that be, look at the money. Joe-shmoe attending person, doesn't know better. All they see is a bad management, and AX powers that be don't like that, for fear that Joe-shmoe may not attend and the lost of money/income that presents. It always comes down to money.

-Anneke

[MisterFurious]

But the "industry" should cater to the fans (even more so here in North America)... Anime is a still mainly a nitch market here support for the most part by fans not main stream average Joes...

Then what we have here is a failure to communicate. I have been told by production companies responsible for the video footage in my videos that they love my AMV's. If they would bother to tell AX the same, then the AMV contest would have no more problems. There's no doubt that the demand for tickets for the event is high enough. It's just that their profit margin is higher when they're charging money for SKIN tickets.

Here's an idea for a write-in campaign. TokyoPop sponsored the AMV contest, which means they paid for the venue, security, etc. How about sending them some love and letting them know that they rock for supporting AMV's, even though the contest didn't go as planned? If more of AX's sponsors supported the AMV contest, then AX management would understand how important it is to the anime community and lay the F off.

[Vlad G Pohnert]

Then what we have here is a failure to communicate. I have been told by production companies responsible for the video footage in my videos that they love my AMV's. If they would bother to tell AX the same, then the AMV contest would have no more problems. There's no doubt that the demand for tickets for the event is high enough. It's just that their profit margin is higher when they're charging money for SKIN tickets.

Here's an idea for a write-in campaign. TokyoPop sponsored the AMV contest, which means they paid for the venue, security, etc. How about sending them some love and letting them know that they rock for supporting AMV's, even though the contest didn't go as planned? If more of AX's sponsors supported the AMV contest, then AX management would understand how important it is to the anime community and lay the F off.

The concept is great in principle, however a lot of anime companies can't officially (or are careful) to start to take sides. AMVs are still in the grey area and although the footage is not as big of an issue yet, the music is the biggest issue. I think companies do like to support fan events like AMV, however if you force them to take a stand then they might not do that. I know people in the companies love AMVs as most are fans just like us (Years ago I was told by a higher-up in Bandai USA that they all love AMVs and even have them on their server, but officially the do not know that they exist). It’s the company layers and policy writers that don’t like then

I think it's not the companies that need to be hit, but the people who control AX. The FANS are who support it and still pay the majority of bills so they are the ones that can apply the most pressure.. Trouble is, except for a handful of us, most fans can't be bothered to campaign against something (that the sad part)

Honestly, if we were fighting to keep AMV at AMV conventions in general, then we might be able to get people on our side. However, it's only one con (AX) and people have choices to go else where. In my opinion maybe having it not there for a year or two might have fans complain and put pressure to bring it back...

The last issue to consider is that someone also has to step up to the plate and run the contest for next year.. NO pointing debating if there is no one who can (any takers )

Vlad

[cherrybomb]

I'm pretty sure it was a disgruntled staffer working for the department heads who stole the amv discs. After 4 years of decently run contests, there's no reason for James to lose any of the discs. He even salvaged last year's contest with his laptop so I trust him.

However, he is still responsible for safeguarding the discs and he should have had copies on himself (even in his pockets) just in case. So many disgruntled attendees will be placing the blame on him.

to blame or not to blame, who knows. All I can say is james has been through various situations and yet, AX still can't seem to get this rolling w/o error which is not surprising. Hell, what is this bullshit with premier tickets now? I can't believe such ludicrous ideas they've done yet, it's mocking the original fans whom have been attending for years. never have I paid (and currently never had or will) have I heard of such option until this year. Changes changes. no wonder 1998 was the best year well spent for me. After several years of volunteering, all I can say is same shit different year and not only that since 2003 volunteering has changed dramatically as well but that's another story. Never would have thought one of my friends (jeannie) would become head of volunteering. meh

[Erinn]

Honestly, if we were fighting to keep AMV at AMV conventions in general, then we might be able to get people on our side. However, it's only one con (AX) and people have choices to go else where.

Vlad

Actually. not many people have a choice..AX is the ONLY con I am allowed to go to...therefore, the ONLY AMV contest around that is near me, so this one con is very big to me. I know some people are willing to drive 6 hours to another con, but I havent the time nor money to do that. I can't even get a hotel near AX, I have to drive back and forth and spend about 20-30 dollars only during all four days....that's how bad my money problem is.

[animedork2075]

Again, I must say... Why should the staff want to keep the AMVs, when they are so badly run/handled. James can fight for them all he wants, but how can you (or the AX powers that be) take him serious when the contest is handled so badly.

You really don't know what is exactly happening. This isn't just about the AMV contest, and james has far less to do with the delays and issues than you would ever think. This isn't about his issues, and you really don't have a clue exactly how bad this situation is going. I was working for AX, and like james (A friend of mine) and several others we know we are just done. The con became a tangled web of issues, and will extend far beyond anyone here can imagine (Unless you work for the con, and know what's happening behind the scenes). It's not an issue of the holders of the rights of the contest, and it's not because someone got pissed that there was content that was used without permission. They do care about it a little, but it's practically a non issue. This is strictly an issue of the con just going downhill. I am not going to speak on his behalf. I until last night didn't know he was stopping this year either, but working for a department that was forced out basically because someone running the show didn't like us, I know for a fact they will go way too far to get what they want. Like James, our whole department. Every one of us quit about a month ago. This is a case of someone who wants what they want, and will stop at nothing to get what they want. I agree, that even if they had all the videos, they would not have showed the whole contest. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the best excuse they came up with to say, it was put off for the SKIN concert.


This whole year has been a nightmare. They have had issues since the beginning, and this con will probably be hurt bad about this. They are probably moving it to the LA convention center next year, because how crappy it's been here.

As for the question about weather or not James posts here, I don't know if he posts. But, I know for a fact that he reads the forums, and know he takes it into consideration. This is why there were no evenescanse (or however you spell it) songs in the contest. When judging them, they had to DQ the videos, because of a cease and desist order placed here. I am not a creator. I have made all of a couple AMVs I don't want to say I know everything, but I know for a fact, that it's got less to do with James than everyone thinks.

-David

[Pwolf]

This is why there were no evenescanse (or however you spell it) songs in the contest. When judging them, they had to DQ the videos, because of a cease and desist order placed here.

he didn't have to unless the ax lawyers made him. no other con has done this btw (that i am aware of). and i believe the C&D had to do with distribution, not public viewing.

I have no doubt that James puts a lot of work into the contest, but common, seems like every year there is something wrong with the dvds he uses or the computer. it's not that hard to come up with a backup plan. hell, just put them on a flash drive and hook up a computer to the projectors if something like that happens. yes, there are things that he can't control. I'm sure we wouldn't be complaining as much if say, one of the projectors died half way in. thats something you can't really prepare for.

Pwolf

[outlawed]

Hay Guyz!

What's going on in here?