The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

[dragontamer5788]

Hmm... well...

I have heard that the needs of AMVs and other fan-created content have been pushed aside for screenings by corporate sponsors. As an AMV editor, I find it reprehensible that Otakorp's priorities are this misguided.

To have such an assertion so quickly in your email is probably a bad thing... and it is even worse that this is forms the basis of your email. Here's my reaction: "Well... it isn't true", and then I'd click delete. It doesn't matter if it were true or not... no one would conciously side with a "corporation" and say "**** the fans!!". I am concerned too, which is why I'm bringing this up. I don't think a few dozen of emails like these would really change anything. An email like that doesn't play to our strengths.

Lets first analyze who we are. We are NOT an Otakon insider. We are NOT Otakon staff. The last thing we want to do is assume we understand the priorities to Otakon. This also means that we cannot comment on an Otakon that has yet to happen. This is simply not our strongpoint. As an (almost) anonymous online submitter, we might be seen as a /b/tard, a troll, or whatever. We shouldn't risk sounding like that.

I'm not saying that I know how to voice my own concerns. But from my view at least... an email like that would be easy for me (personally) to ignore.

***************

That said, we should wait for the schedule to be released officially before we complain about the placement of the AMV Contest. People aren't idiots: if a bunch of self-proclaimed AMV editors suddenly sent in emails to the Chair, that will only put VicBond07 in a worse political position. (oh... Vic was really pushing for this AMV Overflow thingy, and now he's sicked a bunch of fans on me. Etc. etc. At least, thats what it will look like)

Its too early to jump the gun on this. We shouldn't be doing any actions based on insider information, especially if we want to be heard. We should wait for something official to be released on the Website that we would legitimately be concerned about. That would be the best time for our voices to be heard. In the best case, we'd be able to salvage this year's AMV Overflow.

If we jump the gun now, we'll lose that opportunity.

[VicBond007]

I kinda wonder though if a bunch of people writing emails though will have the opposite effect to just piss higher ups off...hmmm...

But ya, it's kind of important to know who won the contest, I mean that's just common sense. Especially since Otakon is like THE Amv Contest.

But I guess so much for the for fans by fans mentality. (Although admittedly if one of the new things is the Haruhi movie I'd squeal with joy).

And I know it's not an issue for this year, but please god don't ever put the awards during the masquerade. I mean, I know it's a popular event and all but not everybody likes it. I certainly don't, and really wouldn't want to sit through hours of something I don't have any interest in. At least with Iron Editor it's relevant to people that like AMVs, so that makes sense.

Meredith is pretty upset at the fact that I'm sharing scheduling information that concerns content providers, with...the content providers. She also can't seem to figure out that there's a link on the website to contact the programming department if you have a concern...

Despite all the discussion at just about every meeting over drawing up a disciplinary plan, Otakorp still doesn't have one, which means that if I'm asked to step down (and it might come to that at this point) they don't actually need legitimate grounds to do so, especially since I'm a volunteer. Not sure what I'd do at that point

As for the schedule, it is being done on the errata sheet, so I assume the deadline for that is really close to the con. dragon's very right though. You know Otakon's priorities are misguided only because I'm putting my position on the line and sharing things that concern you, with you. you can't say "this is bad because..." because the schedule's still subject to change and you're not supposed to know anything. I don't know what it will look like tomorrow, Tuesday, or the day of the con. I just know what it looks like now, and I can only infer things from the conversations that I am having with staffers.

[chui101]

We should wait for something official to be released on the Website that we would legitimately be concerned about. That would be the best time for our voices to be heard. In the best case, we'd be able to salvage this year's AMV Overflow.

With the amount of updating Otakorp does to the official site, by the time anything official is announced, it'll be too late. Pretty much the next thing they're going to put up is going to be the con schedule.

Did I exaggerate things a bit? Probably. But they do need to get the message that Otakon wouldn't be where it is without us, and that it should remain a con that's by the fans, for the fans.

Despite all the discussion at just about every meeting over drawing up a disciplinary plan, Otakorp still doesn't have one, which means that if I'm asked to step down (and it might come to that at this point) they don't actually need legitimate grounds to do so, especially since I'm a volunteer. Not sure what I'd do at that point

Well, we can just turn AUSA into the AMV event to be at.

[VicBond007]

Well, we can just turn AUSA into the AMV event to be at.

I thought it already was!

I think AUSA is a pretty cool guy. eh has a dedicated AMV room and doesn't afraid of anything.

[Honou_Miko]

sorry for late post, got distracted ha

That said, we should wait for the schedule to be released officially before we complain about the placement of the AMV Contest. People aren't idiots: if a bunch of self-proclaimed AMV editors suddenly sent in emails to the Chair, that will only put VicBond07 in a worse political position. (oh... Vic was really pushing for this AMV Overflow thingy, and now he's sicked a bunch of fans on me. Etc. etc. At least, thats what it will look like)

Its too early to jump the gun on this. We shouldn't be doing any actions based on insider information, especially if we want to be heard. We should wait for something official to be released on the Website that we would legitimately be concerned about. That would be the best time for our voices to be heard. In the best case, we'd be able to salvage this year's AMV Overflow.

If we jump the gun now, we'll lose that opportunity.

...yes. I agree. I want to help so much but this is exactly why I've been hesitant. This will work better, probably, as long as this schedule isn't supposed to be completely final when it is posted.

It should be made clear after the schedule is posted that it would allow no time for voting. Like, this should be made clear to non-editor fans (Otakon boards?). Get the laypeople pissed off too, and I think that will be more effective.

It is going to be very hard to pull for overflow, based on the way they're looking at it. :/ Knowing the little hint I've been given, I'm terrified of sounding selfish... but my line of work (opera singing) is essentially all competition, and I'm used to getting the short end of the stick the majority of the time because that's the nature of it. I would absolutely love to be able to keep the overflow, but if they're looking at this from a competition standpoint, they're going to be hard to convince that those that didn't make the "cut" are worth taking up time. -_- It sucks majorly, I know, but such is competition in most settings. People just have no patience, ever.


edit:

I think AUSA is a pretty cool guy. eh has a dedicated AMV room and doesn't afraid of anything.

[dragontamer5788]

With the amount of updating Otakorp does to the official site, by the time anything official is announced, it'll be too late. Pretty much the next thing they're going to put up is going to be the con schedule.

When it comes to politics (especially politics with insider knowledge), there is more to be lost than just A/V Sync. We're talking about VicBond's poisition as AMV Coordinator (or at very least, his standing with the chair and thus we'd directly affect the ability for him to make future requests). Who else in this situation could have told us this stuff? I'm glad that VicBond007 is able to share us this knowledge. And IMO, VicBond007 is in the right in this case. We are content providers, and we should be kept in the loop about this sort of thing. But not everyone will see eye to eye on this.

Did I exaggerate things a bit? Probably. But they do need to get the message that Otakon wouldn't be where it is without us, and that it should remain a con that's by the fans, for the fans.

Lets agree to disagree on this issue. We might be derailing the thread here. Take my views in the previous post as a simple criticism. As I said before, I'm not sure how I'd write the letter anyway. I am willing to continue to bash your email if you want it Just give me a PM so that we don't derail this thread.

[Jefferys]

I can't give out Otakorp contact information since that's private, but Meredith Davey is the head of programming. This either is public knowledge already, or will be once the program guide is published along with the staff list for this year. The Otakon website also has a contact form with a division for "Programming". "AMV Contest" goes right to me, so don't waste your time, I already know your concerns

Meredith was Head of Panels last year. Make of that what you will, even though panels programming last year did seem to run a lot more smoothly and was handled much better than in 2007 and 2008 IMHO.

]I don't actually have the OK to hook anything up in Main Events yet. It's entirely possible that I have to burn DVDs, which means recompressing everyone's videos again, and opens your submissions up to theft/copying by shifty staffers/gophers.

I am gophering again this year. Given that Clint is trying to run a tighter ship this year over in the Gopher Dept. I wonder if I should try to make a case to try to help out more with the AMV and Video Ops depts. I have had a friendly rapport with some of the Video Ops staff in the past, but for the most part, video ops tries to make do with how Otakon schedules the various video rooms and what's showing when and where (although I think Bernhard has some pull with Video 4's mostly classic anime track and the times that "Otaku No Video" get to be shown that weekend).

When your content is on the server, the power button is physically locked with a key. Alan and I are the only people who can access it. Plus, DVDs at Otakon have problems like this:
http://animealmanac.com/2009/07/19/otak ... in-tweets/
Scroll down to "Eva fail!" Sadly this happens every year and we can't do anything about it because we're forced by contract to use DSL as our tech company. They know that they can't be replaced no matter how bad they do. My solution for AMVs, which worked relatively well last year, was to have them install a mechanical switch between DSL's equipment and ours. Good thing, if it wasn't for our equipment, the Eva movie would have been cancelled outright.

I can attest to the server being the Godsend that it totally deserves being. It's a box of wonder and delight, and it works. The shitty thing, though, seems to be the tentative decision to place at least one of the Fan Parodies blocks all the way on the other side of the convention (and probably at rather silly time as well). I really thought Otakorp was above these crazy AX-style tactics...

Sigh, and considering that Tokyopop is having their weird "America's Greatest Otaku" tour presence at Otakon this year, it's no wonder they're giving in to industry pressure... :-/

[SailorDeath]

Thank you, you just gave me a Topper for at AWA Expo for Most Annoying AMV ever.

Hurrrr, it better not be the same as one of the clips I submitted to AMV Hell.

Heh I hope not either. I already got a clear idea of what I wanted to do for the video and I certainly don't want to make something only to find out someone else had the same idea. But I already know how I want to make this video and it has to be funny as well as annoying.

[Jefferys]

here's the latest from Ree, head of the video dept.

I will try to find some space for AMV overflow...but here is the problem... we just do not have space. We lost two video rooms this year and we are struggling to put everything the companies want to do. I had to get rid of the kids programing and that is a huge blow for the con.

And yet they still have Ota-chan which technically placates that issue to begin with... It's not like I find that to be a total loss for the most part. Most younger kids don't need to be in a mostly dark video room with little to no supervision by a parent/guardian. Not that I want to make any snap judgements or implications here...

So 2 things. 1, Industry > Fans. 2, non-finalists should be weeded out so that they're not a burden. Oh and 3, ya'll are amateurs

[...]

PS: There's a fuckton of "room". They offered us a huge block of time in main events, the same time that could be used by us in Video 1.

But surely, this year's programming head really doesn't know the logistics of running a video server nor how to cart such a box anyway. I mean, the server is convenient and all that, but you and Alan are the only ones with the access to it anyway. Video ops way of running things is overly reliant on there being a physical object (ie. DVD or VHS tape) to transport to/from the appropriate venues at the scheduled time/day as stated in the programming guide. The problem, though, with running it that way is the presumption that everybody is honest enough not to make off with that hard copy and/or create a duplicate of it as part of the transport process.

FWIW, Video ops tries not to let gopher/volunteers handle the "important" stuff, so well...YMMV...

[Jefferys]

...yes. I agree. I want to help so much but this is exactly why I've been hesitant. This will work better, probably, as long as this schedule isn't supposed to be completely final when it is posted.

True, most convention schedules are in some state of flux or another up to and including the actual day of the events. Granted, we're now coming up to two and half weeks until Otakon which does make a pretty stressful and harrowing period time for staffers and attendees alike. Although, when you come right down to the essence that is sheer vastness of today's Otakon, it's not like everybody is going to pleased all of the time. I mean, I expect to be attempting to do at least two or three different things within the Inner Harbor area and whether I want to be doing them at all or not, well, that's something else entirely...

To be honest, I'm not sure if I really am looking to forward to this year's Otakon (mainly for personal reasons mostly), but I'm pretty adaptable and can tolerate some change...within reason...

t should be made clear after the schedule is posted that it would allow no time for voting. Like, this should be made clear to non-editor fans (Otakon boards?). Get the laypeople pissed off too, and I think that will be more effective.

I'm not totally pissed, but then again, my comfort level at Otakon hasn't been entirely pleasant in past years knowing how staff politics can be. I'm not expecting the curtain to be totally pulled back based on certain items of speculation and whatever revelations there are. Indifference can be a cruel joke sometimes, but all in all, I really don't see any reason for disturbing any apple carts right now...