AWA 2011 - Contest deadlines (all past)

[jingoro]

For Pro - So there's no expectation of being a "professional" (as in, "pro" level videos or something like that)?

In an era of audience-balloted contests it was intended to imply those "in the industry" were the ones to judge the contest and were, in fact, the ones awarding the recognition, akin to the Academy Awards. Doesn't it inspire you to send it your very best work, in hopes of impressing your peers? As others have said, there is no other requirement aside from a desire to be judged by those who do what you do, make music videos.

[Snowcrash]

Just 2 others questions (I need some details for the french translation actually ^^):
- the Masters videos don't need to be without identification bumps (in contrary of the Pro contest) ?
- about the 2 video formats (MPEG-2 and MPEG-4) if I underestand correctly, they will be 2 kind of screenings : one with only the MPEG-2 video (SD video on DVD) and one with only MPEG-4 video (HD video on an external hardrive I guess)? I mean the HD video won't be converted in MPEG-2 format for this new edition ?

[kholaras]

Hrm, something might have been left out in the rules rewrite. In the past (and I assume still, in the spirit of blind judging) the Masters entry was also required to be blinded (for judging purposes) with the option of including a second version with title card info (for public display). I'll ask jingoro to clarify since we're having a staff picnic later today.

Second question: The projection capabilities across the convention are being upconverted to better resolutions, but not all rooms are equal. Due to equipment limitations, all entries shown in the main events room (which would be all expo and pro winners plus the majority if not all masters entries) will likely be mastered to DVD at standard resolutions. If you have an HD video, please by all means submit in the highest quality possible. For judging, display in the VAT, and for archival every attempt will be made to display and use the HD version.

[jingoro]

Hrm, something might have been left out in the rules rewrite. In the past (and I assume still, in the spirit of blind judging) the Masters entry was also required to be blinded (for judging purposes) with the option of including a second version with title card info (for public display). I'll ask jingoro to clarify since we're having a staff picnic later today.

I was out of town so Kholaras missed me at the picnic, however he is right. In my personal vendetta against title cards, I did remove the mention that you could, in fact, send two versions. We require one without any identification at all (as they must be judged blind), and yes, if you send one with credits, bumpers or other identification, it'll go in the archive for general exhibition.

This isn't the place for me to rant about bumpers and credits; I think my views on these are quite well known.

Second question: The projection capabilities across the convention are being upconverted to better resolutions, but not all rooms are equal. Due to equipment limitations, all entries shown in the main events room (which would be all expo and pro winners plus the majority if not all masters entries) will likely be mastered to DVD at standard resolutions. If you have an HD video, please by all means submit in the highest quality possible. For judging, display in the VAT, and for archival every attempt will be made to display and use the HD version.

I'm told by VAT Technical that Main will most likely be run from a PC at higher-than-SD resolution. I'm not sure what is going into Main Events, however I have been informed The VAT will have a 1080P-native projector this year! MPEG-2 as an archive format is going away as near as I can predict. If you can manage it, I highly recommend submitting HD videos with a good, tested, high-resolution MPEG-4 (at High Profile Level 4, if that means anything to you).

It's not mentioned in the rules, but I just as strongly recommend NOT using MPEG-2 for anything you've taken the time to do in HD, as (as far as I know) it would at best be anamorphic SD, and we'd lose all that extra beauty.

[Nya-chan Production]

(...)MPEG-2 as an archive format is going away(...)

*tears of joy*

[Kireblue]

Has anyone received a confirmation yet? I uploaded my video via ftp 2 weeks ago, but my entry page still says that it's pending.

[Snowcrash]

(...)MPEG-2 as an archive format is going away(...)

*tears of joy*

Double tears of Joy

Anyway I am in for the Pro contest this year

[Cenit]

Is 720p 48fps alright for AWA Pro to send in?

You know that Peter Jackson is filming the Hobbit in 2*24fps (aka 48 fps) so based on that its a offical framerate i edited my AMV in 48 fps. Is it ok to send a AMV to AWA Pro with 48 fps framerate? What are my options if this is not allowed? Should i go for 24 fps instead?

[l33tmeatwad]

Is 720p 48fps alright for AWA Pro to send in?

You know that Peter Jackson is filming the Hobbit in 2*24fps (aka 48 fps) so based on that its a offical framerate i edited my AMV in 48 fps. Is it ok to send a AMV to AWA Pro with 48 fps framerate? What are my options if this is not allowed? Should i go for 24 fps instead?

Just gonna comment, 48fps is not a "standard" at this time, they are simply doing that for the sake of the film being done in 3D. The higher framerate is being used to help the 3D (and reduce certain flaws that show with low frame rates). Right now the current standards are 24, 25, 30, 50, and 60. I don't see 48 becoming a standard format since it is not supported by the current media distribution (Blu-ray) or TV broadcasts. That said, 48fps could become a new standard in the future since most newer TV sets are starting to go with 240Hz refresh or higher, so it won't affect the quality of playback (except on the "old" 120Hz sets, lol).

[outlawed]

Is 720p 48fps alright for AWA Pro to send in? You know that Peter Jackson is filming the Hobbit in 2*24fps (aka 48 fps) so based on that its a offical framerate i edited my AMV in 48 fps. Is it ok to send a AMV to AWA Pro with 48 fps framerate? What are my options if this is not allowed? Should i go for 24 fps instead?

From my understanding the AMV room will play off computer so fps shouldn't be an issue. However there will be a showing in main events of the winners I would imagine like in past years. This will probably require staff to make a DVD version of all the winners. If that's how they do it then it then staff have to convert your video's FPS to 29.97 or 23.976 with pulldown flag. While I'm confident the staff at AWA can convert from that FPS the result may look different from what you expect and with so many entries to process they can only spend so much time doing it. As an outsider and general member of the AMV community my advice to everyone is to already have a secondary version prepared when using frame rates that do not match NTSC standard. It can save a lot of headaches down the road and will allow you to have more control over that conversion process that many conventions need to do.

Personally I'm quite curious why you are using 48 fps. Generally we are using 23.976/24 or 29.97 because that's what our source anime is or because of NTSC display needs. Folks going 60 fps are usually because the majority of the video is CG effects or 3D renders.

As far as the Hobbit here's a quote attributed to Peter Jackson
"Converting a film shot at 48 fps down to 24 fps is not a hugely difficult process, but it requires testing to achieve the best results. Some of this involves digital processes during post-production. We are also shooting the film a slightly different way, which is a question several of you asked. Normally you shoot a movie with a 180-degree shutter angle. Changing the shutter angle affects the amount of motion blur captured during movement. Reducing the shutter angle gives you the stroby (or jerky) “Saving Private Ryan” look. However, we’re going the other way, shooting at 48 fps with a 270 degree shutter angle. This gives the 48 fps a lovely silky look, and creates a very pleasing look at 24 fps as well. In fact, our DP, Andrew Lesnie, and I prefer the look of 24 fps when it comes from a 48 fps master."