AX2007 aftermath - The curse of Long Beach returns

[Seijin_Dinger]

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.Pwolf

Do we really need a legitimate reason to DQ Evanesence videos? Aren't there too many of them already?

Thanks for your support of editor's right to edit what they want.

Pwolf

I have to agree with pwolf
yes we have all seen the same stuff over and over but every now and then there is a rare gem that crops up using music or source footage that is as we all say "over used"

[The Wired Knight]

I'd say... as long as people stay in groups traveling to/from the convention center, they should be safe, and he agrees. Only reason I'm posting in here is because we're moving back to LA sometime next year so I may be attending this con, regardless of how the AMVs are handled.
It is indeed sad that they seem to have been treated so badly by the convention as a whole, but given the legality issues, I suppose it was only a matter of time before one con or another began cracking down.

You do realize how much of an impossibiltiy that is with over 40,000 attendees? Some people go to AX alone, others just seperate a lot. Nobody stays in groups forever at AX.

Secondly keep in mind that it will be VERY obvious that people will have money on them due to a largfe number of bags and that a lot of attendees are walking late at night (many in an area theyre not familiar with). I live close enough that I think I can freely say teh area is poor as I even have to go there a number of times each year.

Hell, E3 always ended at 6:00 pm so people oculd get their asses out of the area quickly, no convention in the LACC runs late for these reasons. Now thorwn in a lot of younger people, people alone and cosplayers (some very scantily clad) and you are asking for a disaster.

LA is a fine enough area but the area around the convention center is attrocious with no hotel being close.

[Najdorf]

I think that AX is going to try and mirror E3's system, with most of the events ending at the convention center in the early evening and moving to the Hotels. At least, that's what Katy seemed to think.

[KagatoAMV]

Regarding music rights for the panels: For C.Y.A. reasons, she wanted the rights waiver to be explicit and in a non-forgeable form. I relayed that the criteria for approval she wanted kept changing, and she needs to be explicit herself with what kind of waiver she wants. Around this point, Michael Underwood (who is a good friend of hers) jumped in and explained it shouldn't be an issue because their ASCAP license should cover the full con, including panels. Both of them will research it, and if that's the case, then that problem might get fixed. I will continue to follow up on this between now and the next con.

I asked her in the very begining if she had a waiver form she wanted me to submit. She never responded to that question.

She changed what she wanted three times before I finally gave up. How could I keep asking people for permission for the same thing, over and over again, and not come across like I was wasting their time?

And what is "non-forgeable"? Unless its witnessed by a Notary or she sees it herself?

She might now claim that she has nothing against AMVs and the AMV contest, but that was not evident by her behavior prior to AX 2007. Maybe if she'd told me up front what she wanted, or if I'd spoken to her in person, it may have been different.

I'm sorry if she felt insulted, but conversly it appears her first thought is that I'd forge the permissions I'd get? That too is insultinng.

[XStylus]

She changed what she wanted three times before I finally gave up. How could I keep asking people for permission for the same thing, over and over again, and not come across like I was wasting their time?

Next year, I'll handle arrangements for booking the panel. You guys run it, I'll set it up. You work on getting legal clearances for songs, and I'll talk (in person) with her to make sure there is a full understanding of what she wants.

Assuming, that is, that she doesn't take the convention's ASCAP event license as good enough.

And what is "non-forgeable"? Unless its witnessed by a Notary or she sees it herself?

She mentioned a password protected PDF or something like that.

Yeah, it's fishy, but I try to see the best in people, so I'm willing to give her the benefit of a doubt.

[MisterFurious]

Well right now there is a huge petition and a series of letters being written to the SPJA about the LA location from con attendees that don't feel safe and will not go. (This is getting quite sizeable so I don't know what will happen).

Either way, if we do end up at LA I'm considering the following options

1. Something near the general hotel areas (since the nearest hotel is half a mile from the convention center there should be food nearby, when it gets closer I can drive up there and check it out since it's only about a 30-40 drive for me to get to LA).

2. Trying to snag a decent area in one of hte hotels and we order a crapload of pizza

I'll figure a way around it somehow, I'd hate tos ee the creator dinner die since I started running it so many years ago.

Actually, Downtown L.A. (particularly the area around the convention center) has improved dramatically in the last few years, ever since the Staples Center opened. Businesses in the area have re-invented themselves for the upscale sports crowd. More importantly, the booming housing market in Los Angeles made some developers purchase dilapidated properties in the neighborhood and either refurbish them or demolish them and build new properties. Expensive lofts are popping up. I actually have a client who lives in the area (those of you who know me are aware that my day job is "IT guy to the rich and famous"), and his loft is awesome! I don't think he would have moved into the area if he thought he wouldn't be safe.

In addition to the new stuff, there is also a ton of history. About two blocks from the convention center is one of the oldest restaurants in L.A., the Original Pantry (although IMHO, the menu selection leaves a bit to be desired). There is even a neighborhood nearby called South Park. Yes, South Park. Imagine the photo ops!!!!

However, I will be the first to admit that the selection of hotels in Downtown L.A. is very paltry. "Official Con Hotels" at E3 included the hotels at Universal, some 20 miles away (!!!). Suffice to say, the hotel situation is going to be terrible, and AX is probably going to have to front a ton of money to provide shuttles to hotels (similar to San Diego Comic Con).

But the best thing about having AX at the LACC is that I can easily get to it by public transportation. I take an express bus to the subway, and some 30 minutes later, I'm there. Then again, I'm used to taking public transportation.

I will make this offer to other AMV creators out there. Having worked in Downtown L.A. for 9 years, I'm pretty familiar with the area, so I will be happy to show people around to restaurants and other points of interest in the neighborhood. Perhaps that might take some of the "Downtown L.A." sting out of it. I may originally be from Northern California, but L.A. is my adopted city, and I've managed to make my San-Diego-based fiancee actually feel proud of where we live.

[Castor Troy]

Hmmm, if I can park my car at a REALLY safe place miles away and just take the metro/subway/etc, I'd do that to make the amv dinner. Maybe some of us can all head back together to the train station and whatnot.

I really want to make next year's amv dinner so keep us informed of any information regarding transportation. I'm willing to pay extra just to see you guys.

It would be like a mini mini mini AWA.

[MisterFurious]

Hmmm, if I can park my car at a REALLY safe place miles away and just take the metro/subway/etc, I'd do that to make the amv dinner. Maybe some of us can all head back together to the train station and whatnot.

Your best bet would be the Universal City Park-and-Ride lot. The subway is 30 minutes from downtown, and the lot is pretty safe.

[anneke]

I was at the LACC for Star Wars Celebration 4 just a few weekends ago. People walked around in SW costumes and such. I had no problem, and the convention had tons of parking. The parking lots were safe, underground, under the convention center. I have no problems at all. I didn't leave the convention area, so I can't say much about the surrounding area. The food wasn't as expensive as I feared as they set up smaller food booths out in the outside concourse area. You will do LOTS of walking. There is an upper level hallway that can get rather crowded/narrow, but other then that, things are pretty good. For 'main events' they don't have an 'arena' or 'theater', so it will just be on the big halls with chairs. The best thing about SWC4 was there were almost no lines. None of this check in to get your badge holder either. If you had your badge you just walked in.

-Anneke

[Seijin_Dinger]

sounds like AX was rough