FanimeCon 2008 AMV Contest - Deadline May 5th

[eaglemech_45]

Fanime Music Video Contest
Well it’s a new year for Fanime AMV’s *A.K.A FMV’s. Learning a lot from last year everyone on staff hopes to give a spectacular performance this year. In 2008 new rules will apply as well as a grading scale, a special category will be made for those FMV’s that wish to conform to Fanime’s theme for the year of 2008. So please read on and gain the knowledge required to be a part of one greatest con’s.

• Contest Rules and Guidelines
Contest Rules
Video Bumpers
• Submission Due Dates
Digital Submissions
Online Submissions
Mailing Submissions
• File Formats
• Events and Judging
Award Classifications
Exhibition Videos

Notice!!! Fanime Con reserves the right to make amendments to the rules at any time.

FMV Contest Rules and Guidelines

Contest Rules
The rules put before you aren't guidelines; all rules are put in place to make an even playing ground for all contestants. Remember: it's a privilege, not a right, to participate in the contest. Keep in mind that we at Fanime aren't perfect, so some mistakes might be made. If the mistake is found on your end we will do our best to contact you and give you the chance to fix the mistake. With the large number of entrants expected we can't devote a lot of time to any one FMV, and some corrections may not be allowed. If the mistake is found on our end we will work as fast as possible to correct it and remember we on the FMV staff work hard, and will do our best to do right by all contestants.

A note to all contestants: please do not send you’re only or master copy, as all materials submitted will not be returned.

All questions and comments need to be sent to: fmv@fanime.com

1. Up to but not exceeding 2 videos may be submitted per entrant, organization, or group.
2. There is no maximum length for videos, but 6 minutes is preferred as the longest length. Keep in mind that videos of excessive length may be cut due to time constraints.
3. All videos may not have been submitted to any prior Fanime Con AMV event.
4. Any video with extreme sexual and/or excessive violent content will be automatically disqualified from the contest. Keep in mind that some nudity is artistic in nature, but any video that the judges deem in poor taste will be removed.
5. Specific dates and times for all FanimeCon events are to be determined at a later date.
6. Special seating will be made available for all contestants during each showing. Please be sure we have your E-mail and mailing address when submitting so your seating location, times, and materials may be sent to you.

Video Bumpers
Please don't put opening or closing bumpers in your video if at all possible. We will be putting uniform title bumpers to all the videos ourselves. Having a bumper will not disqualify your video but will be edited out. If you do not want your video to possibly receive a bad edit, please do it yourself.

Submission Due Dates
All videos must be in the hands of the video coordinator by midnight May 5, 2008. All videos submitted will be tested to make sure that there are no problems with playback. If there are any problems, there is a short amount of time to fix and/or resubmit your work. Remember this isn't school, so don't delay - submit A.S.A.P.

Digital Submissions
All entries must be submitted in a digital format, this means no VHS, HI8, or BETA Max. To allow complete control over the final appearance and quality of the video submitted, and to prevent quality loss, it is in the submitter's best interest to handle digital conversion. Keep in mind that if your video was created digitally, it will keep its quality if left digital.
The inclusion of extra files on the media or uploaded document that does not pertain to the contest is frowned upon. No inclusion of Hentai, get rich quick, or credit card numbers are allowed and a complete waste of space and bandwidth. Besides we have already seen a lot of Hentai, and we're rich. If you must include other files make sure they pertain to the contest and your files directly, such as a logo. Anything else, please check with us before sending.

Online Submissions
If you feel your time is better spent in front of your computer then send it online. You can send your file over the internet via Yousendit.com; click here to send your file up to 100mb in size for free, and $2.99 for larger files. Remember all file formatting and type rules still apply. Make sure to send your video to fmv@fanime.com. After the video has made its way to us please send another email with all the info as if it were a mailed entry.

Mailing Media
Multiple entries may be on a single disk, and multiple disks may be in a single mailer. A letter and text file detailing all media included on the disks must be included with the disk and on the disk/s. All media must be turned in on time to meet all requirements for application into the contest.
Disks must be labeled properly with all info in clean legible handwriting.
Info to be included on the label of the disks:
• Fanime FMV 2K8
• Your full name and either your email address or phone number on each disk.
o Note! If multiple individuals are responsible for the content of the disks, a single contact person must be chosen and that persons name included on top.
• If the file is larger then 650 megabytes or 4.7 gigabytes please span it across multiple disks. Please use either (Winzip - .zip) or (Rarsoft - .rar) to break the file into manageable file sizes.
o Note! All disks must be clearly labeled in consecutive order as part of a set (3 of 7 or XXX of YYY)
o Note! If you wish to submit your file in another format to span media please email fmv@fanime.com to confirm we can handle it.

Info to accompany your disks, as both a written document and a text file on your disks.

For every production group (or individual if a video was made by themselves):
• Production Group Name (if applicable)
• Full legal names of everybody in the production group
• Mailing address (single address for the group)
• Email address (single address for the group)
• Phone number (single phone number for the group)
For every video on the disks:
• Name of the video
• Production group responsible (if multiple groups are submitting on one disk)
• Song Artist
• Song Title
• Footage used (If your video uses more then 3 sources, you need only list "various")
• Category to be judged in
o Note! Judging staff reserves the right to place your video in any category they deem is best suited for your FMV, at their discression.

No media formatted as VCDs, SVCDs, or DVD-Video Discs will be accepted. All media should be data formatted and readable as a simple file, usable on a PC.

Your entry's package must be properly labeled on both the package itself and the disks included. And must include the full name of the contest you are entering as follows:

ATTN : Fanime FMV 2K8
Your name and address
Mail all entries to:

ATTN: Fanime FMV 2K8
c/o Sean Barber
7722 Reseda Blvd. Apt.219
Reseda, CA 91335

File Formats
We would prefer that your file arrives as either a MPEG or AVI. If you choose to select a format that is different from the two listed please send us an email at fmv@fanime.com to confirm that it will work with our system. If you are still unsure about your options, simply export your files in its native format and we'll take it from there. Please when exporting your files stay within official resolutions (horizontal of 720, 704, 640, 352 and vertical of 480, 240 for NTSC and 576,288 for PAL), and with stereo or mono audio. As nice as 5.1 surround is we still are unable to acquire a satisfactory sound system able to handle seamless playback of 5.1 (AC3, DTS, and MPEG-2 Audio)
ASF, WMV, MKV, Windows Media, Quicktime, Flash/Shockwave Animation, Real Media Files are unacceptable formats at this time.
MPEG-2
• Film
23.97 Frames Per Second or 24 Frames Per Second.
Encode with a 3:2 upon playback, or our hardware will automatically do so.
• TV
29.97 Frames Per Second or 30 Frames Per Second.
Encode with a 3:2 upon playback.
MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Resolution
• Please choose one of the following resolutions, and scale your video up to it.
720x480, 704x480, 640x480, 352x480, 352x240, or 320x240
• If your vertical resolution is 480, please encode your video as interlaced.
• If your original source is not one of these resolutions, please choose the smallest one that is larger than your resolution.
• 640x480 is suggested only for computer generated video or video that was captured with square pixels, otherwise use 720x480 over 640x480.
• MPEG-2 Bit Rate
Single pass set to a variable bit rate and select 16 megabits per second.
Two pass VBR set 2 megabits as the minimum, 8 megabits as the average, and 16 megabits as the maximum.
Otherwise use quality VBR and leave the quality setting at maximum and the maximum bit rate at 16 megabits per second for 320x240 or 325x240 resolutions.
• MPEG-1 Bit Rate
Please use either "create a VCD spec file" or set the bit rate to 1.5 megabits per second.
It's in your best interest to use the highest bit rate allowed-within reason-as this will increase its quality.

Audio
• Please use layer-II audio at 224 kilobits per second or better
• Choose stereo over joint stereo for best quality
• Do not use layer-III or MP3, as our hardware cannot decode this
We have a lot of hard drive space available and would rather sacrifice size over quality.
If you're unsure of how or what resolution/frame rate/bit rate/audio settings to choose, please send the source file and let us do the conversion for you.
AVI
• If you manipulate your video on a PC it is likely that you manipulate AVI files.
• Though MPEG files are preferred we can accept AVI files
Note! Keep in mind that we will internally convert to MPEG files for display purposes
• If you used a high compression CODEC, such as MPEG-4 or DivX will not be as high a quality as possible
Note! If we can get a CODEC to play your AVI file we can convert based on that
• Resolutions and frame rates allowable for AVI files are essentially unlimited
Note! Your file will be converted to one of the MPEG profiles previously suggested, when resizing your video the choice of maintaining the aspect ratio will be determined on a video-to-video basis

Events and Judging
Judging staff will consist of Fanime FMV coordination staff, Fanime Con staff, outside technical and artistic judges, and AMV editors not participating in Fanime AMV events for the current year.
Judging staff will separate all videos submitted into 5 genres as follows:
• Action/Adventure/Horror
• Drama/Romance
• Comedy/Parody
• Experimental ( an FMV that pushes the limits and crosses genre barriers, A.K.A the ones we can't categorize)
• Fanime 2008 Theme (Feudal Japan)

100 Point Grading Scale:
40 Points – Skill/Technical Prowess
30 Points – Creativity/Concept – “does the Video go with the music?” “Does your Music Video flow gracefully or does it roll like Square wheels”
15 Points - Submitted properly – This one must be self evident, you need to submit the right forms, format, and have it in on time.
10 Points – Choice of Audio Selection – “Does the music fit the tone or selection of anime used in your Music Video”
5 Points – Quality of source material – “Does you video have the DivX Logo? Does your video look grainy when expanded to full screen?”
The judging staff will view each entry and choose which entries will make it into the finals. Don't despair - those that don't make it into the finals will still be shown some time during the con.

Award Classifications
• Judges Choice
Judges Choice will be decided prior to Fanime Con and will not be announced until the Award Ceremony.
• Viewers Choice
Viewers Choice will be decided by the attending audience of the finals judging. All audience members will vote on their favorite video by ballot. Each genre will have a winner. There will also be a Best of show from all genres. Awards will be submitted to all winners during the Award Ceremony which is held during con. You do not have to be present at the con to receive your award, but it would be nice if you were.
Exhibition Videos
Exhibition videos will be accepted and may be shown at other events during the con. If you wish to submit an exhibition FMV please make sure your documentation says that it specifically is for the exhibition. Otherwise it will be judged as a regular FMV and may or may not be disqualified.

Notice!!! Fanime Con 2008 reserves the right to make amendments to the rules at any time.

[Emotive]

Online Submissions
If you feel your time is better spent in front of your computer then send it online. You can send your file over the internet via Yousendit.com; click here to send your file up to 100mb in size for free, and $2.99 for larger files. Remember all file formatting and type rules still apply. Make sure to send your video to fmv@fanime.com. After the video has made its way to us please send another email with all the info as if it were a mailed entry.

So we send one e-mail with the link to the video and one more with the info? If so, do we send four e-mails in total if we are submitting two different videos or should we send both videos/infos at once over two e-mails?

[eaglemech_45]

WEll when you use yousendit.com the website sends an E-mail to me with a link to the file you uploaded. Next you need to send me a separate E-mail with all the Info about your file. So if you have two files yousendit.com will take care of one set of E-mails and then you just need to send the other set with all your info.

Thank you for asking..

[eaglemech_45]

Update: 30 days left until the May 5th Submission Deadline Hurry and get your Amv In today....

-Sean

[Dragon/Roy]

What about using megaupload , then send u link of the video and the info all in one e-mail to make it easier

[eaglemech_45]

You know what... Go for it Just as long as all the other submission rules are met you got your self a deal. Thank you for asking.

-Sean

[Oli.C]

Question! o:

Audio: I'm not getting very pleasing results encoding to layer-II audio and to be honest my software will only allow a max 160 kbps.

Do you accept WAV audio tracks or would it be better make seperate files for video submission and audio source (presumably for you to sort to the most acceptable format you can handle)?

Apologies but so far my audio has always been in MP3 format.

[eaglemech_45]

Just for you we will accept the format. But keep in mind that all the audio will be reformatted on our end, this is done because we put all videos into a single file. Thank you for your Q.

-Sean

[Dafreshprince]

If you win with an online submission, will the prize be sent to your adress?

[eaglemech_45]

Yes if your a winner your prize will be sent to the address given on your submission info.