Anime Central 2004 Music Video Contest Rules

[SailorDeath]

Hi, sorry I just realized I haven't posted the rules for this year's contest here sorry about the delay ^^; anyway without further adieu here they are:

Anime Central 2K4 Anime Music Video Contest Rules 1.2 (March 3, 2004)
--------------------------------------
* Only videos made after April 1st, 2003 are eligible for competition.

* All entries must be in the hands of the contest coordinators by April
30th, 2004. This INCLUDES FTP submissions. We need to have time to
capture, encode or convert the files so the contest can get under way at its
correct time with as few problems as possible.

* Entries being sent by mail should be mailed to the following address:


ATTN: ACen 2k4
Patrick Bohnet
2955 Lula Lane
Kennesaw. GA 30144

* We will have an FTP available for digital submissions. Please visit
http://contest.otakuvideo.com create an account/log in and select
Anime Central as the convention that you will be entering your video
into. Then follow the instructions on submitting your video to us.
Currently the server is undergoing a makeover, the site will be restored
by the end of March.

* Judges and AMV panelists will be chosen before the convention by the
contest coordinator. AMV creators wishing to judge the contest should
contact musicvideo@acen.org. Creators who have submitted videos to
the contest may only judge categories they are not competing in. There
will be a total of 3 judges selected from creators. We will also be selecting
3 non-creator judges for the contest as well. This will give us a total of 6
Judges for the contest and all must be present at the first showing.

* All mailed entries must be sent including the entry form or a typed
document including the same information. This is to save our sanity when
trying to identify videos during screenings and judging. Please also label
each tape given to us clearly in case it is separated from your entry form!
If this information isn't included, this is ground for disqualification. Make
certain if you are a staff member the tape is clearly labeled as a Staff
entry. Get the Entry Form from www.acen.org or by contacting the
contest coordinator at musicvideo@acen.org. The entry form is also
attached to the bottom of these rules.

Videos submitted to Anime Central via the FTP site will not need to mail
in an entry form. You will be required to fill out the entry form on the
FTP website. The information sent to us will be kept confidential, and
will be used to keep track of your music video as well as provide us
with contact information if we need to get in touch with you regarding your amv.

* Entry tapes will not be returned to the creators. We will need your
copies in case there are any capturing issues we don't immediately
solve. PLEASE don't send us your master or only copy! If you are
attending Anime Central, it is a good rule of thumb to bring a back
up just in case we were unable to reach you regarding a problem with
your entry.

* Video Tape entries MUST include at least 10 seconds of black screen
before the video starts! Videos submitted on CD-R or DVD+R/-R MUST
have 1 second of black before the video starts. This will increase the
quality of the transfer into the contest, not to mention the sanity of the judges.

* Please do not include bumpers/title screens for the video, this also
includes MTV Style credits. We will put a bumper into the contest for
every video, so you will still get credit, but we want them all to be similar
in design to give the contest a specific flow. NOTE: VIDEOS THAT
FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE MAY BE DISQUALIFIED!!
DO NOT PUT YOUR VIDEO AT RISK!

* Entries are to be submitted via the following formats: VHS, SVHS,
CDR DVD-R, DVD+R and FTP Upload, please let us know ahead
of time if you have any doubts about us accepting your desired media.

* Due to the growth of the AMV Contest at Anime Central, only ONE
entry per individual will be accepted, if you are a member of a group,
more than one will be accepted from that group, just as long as different
members of that group make the videos.

* Entries should run no longer than 5min 15sec NO EXCEPTIONS!
The contest has grown considerably and we can no longer be as lenient
on running time as we have in the past. (this time limit does not include
the black before the video)

* We would appreciate digital submissions that are uploaded or mailed to
us use the TMPGEnc Profile that can be located here:

http://www.otakuvideo.com/files/template.zip

To install the profile, extract the profile into the “templates” subdirectory
where you have TMPGEnc installed.

Then select the profile from the wizard and encode your video.

Doing this gives us more time to assemble the video contest, and you will
not have to worry about whether your video is in the correct format or not.

* Entries may be disqualified for the following reasons: Objectionable content
of video or lyrics, bad audio or video quality, running time, or inclusion of
subtitled footage. Subtitles may or may not be allowed, depending on their
relevance to the "feel" of the video and/or the source of the subtitles (if you
subtitle the song, or subtitle the characters saying something they originally
didn't say, most likely your video won't be disqualified), but more that 3
lines of subtitled dialogue is usually too much.

* Your video may contain footage from video games, live action, or non-Japanese
animation. Please try to keep at least half of your video as Anime, as we are
an ANIME music video contest.

* PLEASE notify us if your video contains spoilers. We would like to include
a warning during the contest so any viewers who haven't seen the end or important
point of a series included in your video won't be spoiled before they see the
actual anime.

* Any one video will only be able to win one award. The Award the video
wins is at the discretion of the judges.

* The votes of the judges will be tabulated before and during the Masquerade
on Saturday night (some judging may occur on Sunday as well, should there
be problems with Saturday's screening). The judges will make all decisions
regarding winners.

* You need not be present at the convention or the contest to win, but if you
want your award and prizes, you must have a proxy at the con to pick them
up or send SASE to the contest coordinator (you will be contacted in this case).

[MOD: As written below:
"There has been an addition to the current rules regarding bumpers/title screens and that is all entries cannot contain credits that would normally follow the end of the video as well."]

* Categories for judging will be:

Drama / Romance - Videos in this category will focus on the dramatic nature
of the show portrayed. They may include fight scenes, but fighting should not
be the focus of the video.

Comedy / Parody - These videos will be humorous in nature, be they making
fun of the anime involved or the song. Just about anything goes in this category,
as long as SOMEONE thinks it's funny ^_^

Action / Horror - The point of this category is basically testosterone. They
should be fast-paced and may be gory.

Best Technical Achievement - This award will go to what we feel is the best
edited video in terms of what they did with the available technology. Use of
digital editing equipment is pretty much a must.

Best Original Concept - Again, videos from any category qualify for this.
Winners of this award show the best vision when creating the video; they really
put their heart into the work. Also, use of a very original idea is a good way to
impress us.

Best Theme - This year’s theme is TV Commercial. That means videos are
made to look like a commercial that would appear on television

Best of Show - This award is to be given to the best overall video from all
categories, except staff.

Best Staff Video - This is the only category Staff members of Anime Central
may win an award in. They may be geared towards any of the categories,
but may only win this award.

* By submitting your video to this contest, you authorize us to screen and
distribute it under the Anime Central Music Video Contest title. We will
include your name / studio name in a bumper before the video, so you will
retain your full credit for your work even.


Please fill out the following form and submit it with your video submission.
Please be sure to fill out all fields.

Anime Central 2004 Music Video Contest Entry Form

Creator Name: __________________________________________________
___

Creator Studio: __________________________________________________
___

Name to Be Shown on Bumper: ________________________________________

Video Title: __________________________________________________
______

Video Source: (if more than 3 enter Various):
__________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________
__________________

Song Title: __________________________________________________
______

Song Artist: __________________________________________________
_____

Video Category (Please Select ONLY ONE – Note Failure to do so may result in your video being disqualified):

(_) Action (_) Drama (_) Comedy (_) Theme (_) Staff

Video Runtime (Please Exclude the black that we requested you add to your video)
__________________

Contact Information (all personal information will be kept private):

Address: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________

Phone Number (______) ______-_______________

[Scintilla]

*sees deadline*

Looks like I'll be submitting the same video to ACen as to Otakon, if any...

*sees "more than 3 lines of subtitled dialogue is usually too much"*

... but it won't be DV:UI

[Koopiskeva]

.....








.... son of a
.. fuc* |":

[dwchang]

.....








.... son of a
.. fuc* |":

G'huh?

Looks like I'll be submitting the same video to ACen as to Otakon, if any...

Bah!

I'm about 50% through my ACen entry and immediately after finishing, I'll be starting my Otakon entry with the very slim chance of getting it done on time.

Then again, I can't blame ya, since my ACen entry was what I submitted to Otakon last year and it ultimately won. To be honest, I felt sorta bad since I know a lot of folks make unique entries and I just submitted the same thing. Given, it hadn't won anything yet (well prior to the deadline), but still...

In any case, look forward to whatever it is you submit to either, whether it's unique to both or not. I should also mention that my motivations are a bit more different since ACen is my home con and I like making unique entries for my home con and well...Otakon is special now too .

Good luck!

[SailorDeath]

a quick note on the all original videos, that rule is mostly for people whov'e sent video into other conventions and have already been premiered there, since Otakon takes place a couple months AFTER acen if you were to submit a video to us and to otakon, then technically it hasn't premiered anywhere else and that would be allowable.

[trythil]

Then again, I can't blame ya, since my ACen entry was what I submitted to Otakon last year and it ultimately won. To be honest, I felt sorta bad since I know a lot of folks make unique entries and I just submitted the same thing.

I never understood the "MUST MAKE UNIQ ENTRIE" thing...

[SailorDeath]

Then again, I can't blame ya, since my ACen entry was what I submitted to Otakon last year and it ultimately won. To be honest, I felt sorta bad since I know a lot of folks make unique entries and I just submitted the same thing.

I never understood the "MUST MAKE UNIQ ENTRIE" thing...

The entry must not have premiered at another con before anime central. That's what we meant by unique entry. I can see that it's a little misleading, so I'm going to change that int he rules to read a little differently

[dwchang]

Then again, I can't blame ya, since my ACen entry was what I submitted to Otakon last year and it ultimately won. To be honest, I felt sorta bad since I know a lot of folks make unique entries and I just submitted the same thing.

I never understood the "MUST MAKE UNIQ ENTRIE" thing...

Generally it is up to the contest itself to determine if they want this sort of clause. There are positives and negatives to it.

On one end you get unique entries for the con-goers. Stuff that hasn't been seen anywhere else

On the other end, you miss out on some *great* videos that already "proved themselves" at other conventions.

I myself already stated that ACen and Otakon are sorta special for me and thus I make a concerted effort to make something unique to reflect that. It should by no means be forced on anyone (so long as they follow the rules) since it's my own decision.

[Pwolf]

so... if i send a video to sakuracon, which is in april and also send it to Acen, which is in may, my video will be dqed o.O



Pwolf

[Vlad G Pohnert]

so... if i send a video to sakuracon, which is in april and also send it to Acen, which is in may, my video will be dqed o.O


Pwolf

Yep, Sounds Like it.... I was going to sent to ACEN, but it's a week before JACON and so I would be DQed at JACON for premiereing a video a week before... Oh well, not really a problem...

Vlad