Otakon 2003: Sizing up the Competition...

[dwchang]

That's why I'm here. If I can't at least make the cut for the contest with this years vid, then perhaps I should not be doing this anymore.

At least that's how I'm feeling at the moment. I change my mind a lot though.

Well here's to hoping you change it again...it'd be unfortunate to lose a creator over just a contest.

Here's to hoping you get in (as well as a number of us).

[hackerzc]

That's why I'm here. If I can't at least make the cut for the contest with this years vid, then perhaps I should not be doing this anymore.

At least that's how I'm feeling at the moment. I change my mind a lot though.

Well here's to hoping you change it again...it'd be unfortunate to lose a creator over just a contest.

Here's to hoping you get in (as well as a number of us).

Well, after viewing Vlad, doki doki, and Ashyukun's entries today I seriously went into a deep depression. The entries were awsome mind you, it's just that I have a bad habbit of comparing myself to those who are obviously superior. It's a double edged sword. Sure I can use this as a driving force in helping me improve and better understand what people like (I am not here to win. I want to, but that is not my goal. My goal is to make something people like. I want to create a legacy for myself. Something that people will remember. I want to be able to inspire others the way I was when I saw my first amv's), but the downside is that I am unfarely comparing myself to the best there is. I am extreamly hard on my self now adays when it comes to this stuff. So much so that I can't even take pleasue in something even when I do deserve some sort of recognition.
I know that it is totally illogical. People like Vlad and Tim Park have been doing this for several years while I have been at it for only 1 yeas(less then one if you take into account that my first two videos were actually experimentation in my futile attempt to understand the basics of digital video editing to see if I was even interested in it).
Considering all that. I have come very far in such a short time I believe. By all means please watch my First two videos, then watch my third. Between making the second one and the third one I took about 9-10 months just reading guids, a premiere book, seriously upgrading hardware and software, and experimenting a bit. Let me know what you think about my progression. Am I behind where I should be, am I on the right course, or by some strange chance am I actually ahead of where I should be? I really don't understand the time frame of this stuff. What I do know is that the average time span an AMV creator does amv's is 3 years. This is what I have based what I have done off of.

The heard of the matter is, I don't really derive any great pleasure from making AMV's. I never really have. Sure it it fun to see something when it is done, and it gives me something to do and keeps me occupied (which in a way makes me happy. Keeping busy that is). But unless I am accomplishing something I see no real reason to do any of this in the first place. But on the same note, I don't really want to stop making videos because one day it is possible I might make something people like.
Maybe this is something everyone goes throught, just going throught the my paces or something. I might just be taking it harder then others. Or maybe I just whine about it more.

I just can't help but feel like an outsider. Everyone seems to know more about editing then I do. More about hte technology. More about Anime.
It's quite difficult to keep up at times. It all just seriously disscurages me.

Oh well. I'm ready for the posts about how I am a whiny little b*tch, or how I'm just fishing for compliments. Both may verywell be true. I have a hard time judging my own personality since I span the entire spectrum. One moment I can be the nicest most agreable person in the world, and the next I could resemple the spawn of satin.

Oh yeah, and the final number was something like 195 or 196 (that's before DQ's and the like). OS....who won? Besides Quu...

[Vlad G Pohnert]

Well, if it makes you fell any better, I still consider myself an outsider... Quite frankly I don't really think I'm really that popular....

Vlad

[trythil]

and the next I could resemple the spawn of satin.

Spawn of satin? Is that like polyester?

[hackerzc]

and the next I could resemple the spawn of satin.

Spawn of satin? Is that like polyester?

Sorry. I'm not the best speller. I would correct myself, but I am trying to eat dinner, and I think you understand what I was trying to say

[iserlohn]

After three years in the hobby, I'd have to say that Otakon has the most difficult prescreening process to clear. The only exception to this rule is AX, merely because it still allows multiple submissions from each creator, and even then, making the finals is easy if you can follow a popularity formula. Even AWA Pro has some 20 categories with each one taking three or four videos by the end. Otakon takes 100+ videos and whittles them down to thirty. In this case, close to 200 videos and whittles them down to thirty.

This means that fewer than 1 in 6 creators are going to make the finals. It's really a crap shoot to see who makes it as well. The big names usually find their ways to the finals (almost always with good reason), and they fill up perhaps 10-14 of the spots. Everything else is filled by wildcard voting. Those who have attended Otakon prejudging can testify to the fact that a video with cheap mass appeal (ie SoaD and Eva) is more likely to get thrown out than make it to the finals. It takes a combination of creativity, organizational skill, and technical merit (and the prescreeners will forgive the last one if the video is good otherwise) to make it into those few slots.

In short, it's a bitch. Nobody ever said this would be easy, and as the number of submissions continues to grow, the competition only gets fiercer, even though the proportion of returning creators (and improved creators) drops. The scaling back of the contest to 120 min. (from 160) also hurts, but it's to the audience's advantage. And, in the end, they're the ones who matter most. We do this to entertain people, and it's better to be liked by one person than nobody. Of course, those who read my LJ will see just how hypocritical I am for saying that.

Anyhow, I'm exhausted. One last mp3 and then to bed.

[dwchang]

My goal is to make something people like. I want to create a legacy for myself. Something that people will remember. I want to be able to inspire others the way I was when I saw my first amv's.

The heard of the matter is, I don't really derive any great pleasure from making AMV's. I never really have.

I think these are your problems. If you're not having fun well...I hate to say it, but you're gonna be upset then. If you're out to create a legacy or win...most of the time you're not going to. I've noticed that you have to have fun first and then rest (sometimes) comes naturally. Given not everyone having fun will win or become popular, but...the fact they're having fun seems to translate in their performance...I know that makes no logical sense, but it's how I feel.

Well, if it makes you fell any better, I still consider myself an outsider... Quite frankly I don't really think I'm really that popular....

Vlad

You're popular to Rozard and I :AIM KISSY FACE:

Seriously though...it's simple...you make Awesome videos! So...accept it .

[dwchang]

Oh yeah, and the final number was something like 195 or 196 (that's before DQ's and the like). OS....who won? Besides Quu...

It looks like Hitori with 187. I *think* after scrolling through really quickly.

[iserlohn]

It looks like Hitori with 187. I *think* after scrolling through really quickly.

The 100% exact final numbers aren't in yet, and I'm going to take the number after DQ, which'll put Hitori in as over...and I'm trying to remember how many we put up for DQ today, I want to say we got one or two definates and another 3 or 4 suggested....can't remember, brain is mush.

[Vlad G Pohnert]

Yea, I do like Otakon a lot, but I'm not sure if the present pre-judging system is the best... Unfortunately, there are so many good videos that as very well made but may lack the mass appeal of a popular song done to a popular anime... Personally with such a huge contest, I think it would be time to expand the total amount of winners/categories and maybe introduce some non-audience judged elements to give recognition to the wonderful talent out there that the audience misses...

The contest has many things I still like the fact that it shows the overflow videos and trhe contest itselve is shown several times to a massive audience! BUT at the pace it's growing I think it may be time to evolve it into something a bit more so that both the audience still has fun with it and plays some part, but also that more creators and the vide variety of videos are recognized.

I know it's Matt's last year running the contest and hats off to him (and Duane) for creating and running a great contest. Thanks guys, you done a great job and will be missed. I just hope that who ever takes over is just as good and somewhat attuned to the explosion of videos and creativity in the AMV community and looks at evolving the contest while keeping the spirit of original...

Vlad