AWA 14 PRO CONTEST

JaddziaDax · Post by **JaddziaDax** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:23 am

I like the idea of blind judging more so because my videos aren't judged on biases people might have for or against me rather than the video.

jasper-isis · Post by **jasper-isis** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:51 am

My concern is not so much the bias as the removal of the mystery element that TJ and nessie talked about. Bias exists in virtually all contests, but seeing cool new stuff that people have tried to keep under wraps is what makes Pro unique. That's why I'd feel a little guilty entering a video that people have already seen.

Though I suppose I could try to offset that by pairing it with something new and entirely unexpected...

Unlimited Rice · Post by **Unlimited Rice** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:51 am

I wanna see some more upsets, like when you feel like you're 100% sure you know who made a certain video, and then when AWA comes around, you find out you were wrong.

Jnzk · Post by **Jnzk** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:57 am

Nessephanie wrote:Honestly I'd really like to see the contest become blind, but I doubt that will happen.

Likewise. It can be hard to rate videos the same way if you've seen some of them before. Plus the cloud of mystery is 60% of the fun for me. But it's not my contest.

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:33 am

Janzki wrote:
Nessephanie wrote:Honestly I'd really like to see the contest become blind, but I doubt that will happen.
Likewise. It can be hard to rate videos the same way if you've seen some of them before. Plus the cloud of mystery is 60% of the fun for me. But it's not my contest.

Well I'm certainly not disagreeing in that respect (I prefer that way as well), but frankly, if people submit within the context of the rules of AWA...then no one can really complain. It's their contest and we choose to submit things that are within the rules.

It's not really for any of us to judge others or tell them what they are and aren't allowed to submit. The only one who can do that is the coordinator and clearly they've made their choice and we should respect it (and those who submit).

(and again, I do prefer what you are advocating since I think there is a significant amount of inherent perception, favoritism and bias in this community...but that's another topic entirely)

Nessephanie · Post by **Nessephanie** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:06 am

Oh Daniel, don't be a fuddy duddy. We're not judging, complaining, or telling anyone to change anything, or telling anyone not to submit a video that's already been premiered. She asked for honest thoughts about the fact that it's not blind. That's all we're responding to.

We're not disrespecting those who run the contest, we're just saying what we like about how most people like to try and keep it as blind as possible. Hense why I said it would probably never be strictly blind (it's their contest to run as they like, and they'd get less entries >_>).

Brad · Post by **Brad** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:12 am

In practice, as far as I can remember, I'd say that 95% of the videos that have won have been new videos. I don't know if that says more about the ratio of new videos in the contest to premiered ones, or about the editor's feelings toward voting for a premiered video...

I don't like the idea of making it STRICTLY blind, but I would like it if the idea of premiering new videos was brought up more openly. But thats just my opinion. Obviously if the contest coordinators simply don't want it that way, then no problem. I just agree with what most others are saying in that the whole "surprise factor" of Pro is one of the main reasons why I love this contest so much.

But at the same time, lets say there were hardly any good videos in a category except for a video that had already premiered and is really great, then of course I would most definitely vote for it, since it's the best video, and that's what I base my decision on. So yeah, I don't want to completely discourage people from entering old stuff, but I DO strongly ENcourage people to make and submit new videos

ngsilver · Post by **ngsilver** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:06 am

The blind aspect, for the most part, seems to put everyone on the same playing ground so to speak. Even though there are the ones that have premiered, for the most part the contest has been mostly new entries and that seems to bring something extra to the experience of competing and then of course, judging. We can turn a blind eye to who did what, which helps for those of us who have been type cast as certain genre editors, and get down to the basics; which video is best. I myself love the fact that I could pull something completely different and off the wall from what most would expect out of me, and then watch as everyone tries to pin the video on someone they'd expect that from.

Of course, the main drawing force for me has been the peer judged aspect of the contest. While I get to see new videos, experimental videos, and some of the best videos (IMO from past years) of the year, it's being able to choose along with everyone else who wins that really keeps me coming back. Of course, trying to guess who's video is who's has always been the icing on the cake ^^

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:14 am

Quite honestly I think blind or not blind should not matter if your judging all the videos for the merit of the what they are and not who made them (I never care who made them when I judge in that respect) so I consider my judging to be "Blind" and not the fact I don't know who made it

And actually the only reason the ratio is higher for new videso winning is becasue 90% ARE new videos and that is all.. Last year a video that already made the con circuit won a category...

In the end it's not our rules, but the rules of the Event that one must follow...

Vlad

Ileia · Post by **Ileia** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:02 am

Vlad G Pohnert wrote:In the end it's not our rules, but the rules of the Event that one must follow...

*facepalm*
Why does this keep getting repeated? I don't think anyone in this thread is trying to change the rules.