2013 FMV Contest Rules and Guidelines!

Started by Marin Jei El, January 27, 2013, 12:14:57 PM

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Marin Jei El

FMV Contest Rules and Guidelines

        The rules are put in place to make an even playing field for all contestants. Please keep in mind that we at Fanime aren't perfect, so mistakes can happen.  If the mistake is found on your end, we will do our best to contact you and give you the chance to fix it.  With the large number of entries expected, we can't devote a lot of time to any one FMV, so some corrections may not be allowed. If the mistake is found on our end we will work as fast as possible to correct it.  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 your only or master copy, as all materials submitted will not be returned.

        All questions and comments can be sent to: [email protected] or [email protected]

          UPDATES OF NOTE
            • New mailing address.
            • New Judge's Point Scale/Extra Points.
            • New Category descriptions.
            • Movie Trailers added to Experimental category.
            • New Bonus Awards.
            • New Deadlines.
            • filesend.com is now filesend.net

          GENERAL SUBMISSION RULES

            • Up to, but not exceeding, 2 videos may be submitted per entrant, organization, or group.

            • There is no maximum length for videos, but 5 minutes is preferred as the longest length. Keep in mind that videos of excessive length may be cut due to time constraints.

            • All videos may not have been submitted to any prior Fanime Con AMV event.

            • 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.

            • Specific dates and times for all FanimeCon events are to be determined at a later date.

            • Special seating will be made available for all contestants during the 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 no later than the Hard Deadline of midnight on Wednesday May 1st, 2013. Additional points will be awarded for all entries submitted on the Soft Deadline on or before Wednesday April 24th, 2013. 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.

        We ask that you include a text file with your submission information. The inclusion of extra files sent in during your submission will not be tolerated. This infraction depending on the materiel sent may cause you to be disqualified.

        Online Submissions
        If you're a very busy person, and a lot of us are, please send your videos online. You can send your file over the Internet via filesend.net. filesend.net will handle files up to 500mb in size for free with out registration, and 1GB if you register for the FREE account. There are many other file sharing websites online and you may use any that you want, just don't send links to any illegal or illicit file hosting websites. Remember all file formatting and type rules still apply. Make sure to send your video to [email protected]. After the video has made its way to us please send another email with all the info as if it were a mailed entry.

Note: Due to problems with downloads from the site and certain restrictions placed upon downloading, we ask that you DO NOT upload via Mega Upload. Filesend.com is preferred.

Info to accompany your entry as a text file with your submission(s):


         * 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 submitted:
            • 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 than 3 sources, you need only list "various")
            • Category to be judged in.


        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 2K13
            • Your full name and either your email address or phone number on each disk.
            * 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.

All disks must be clearly labeled in consecutive order as part of a set (example: 3 of 7 or XXX of YYY)
         
If you wish to submit your file in another format to span media please email [email protected] 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 than 3 sources, you need only list "various")
            • Category to be judged in.
         
*** Note! Judging staff reserves the right to place your video in any category if they feel the video was misplaced. To avoid any conflicts we will contact you before this move.

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

        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 2K13
        Your name and address

        Mail all entries to:

        ATTN: Fanime FMV 2K13
        C/o Jose Marin
        5176 Elm Ridge Dr
        Baton Rouge, LA 70817


Note: This address is new. Please update your notes, friends, etc!!!

       File Formats
        We are only accepting files that are formatted in MPEG2, AVI, MP4, or MOV. If you choose to select a format that is different from the one's listed we will contact you and ask that you change it's format. Please, when exporting your files stay within official resolutions 720X480 or an HD size of 1280x720 and with stereo audio. Videos may be rejected if the resolution is too small.

Suggested Programs for file conversion
   If you need to convert your video to an accepted file format we suggest using one of these two programs.   MPEG Streamclip and TMPGEnc. Both are free and easy to use.

        ASF, WMV, MKV, Windows Media, Flash/Shockwave Animation, Real Media, and HUFYUV Files are unacceptable.

        General File Settings
Video:
•   29.97 Frames Per second
•   Encode with an aspect ratio of 16:9, 4:3 is allowed but might be stretched during our conversion process.
•   If your original source was film or 24fps add a 3:2 Pulldown this will convert it to 29.97 fps
•   Please encode your video as deinterlaced. Interlaced is OK but we will deinterlace the video for the contest. 
•   Video size must be either 720X480 4:3 Format or 1280X720 16:9 Format
•   Single pass set to a variable bit rate and select 16 megabits per second
•   If you use two pass VBR set to 2 megabits as the minimum, 8 megabits as the average, and 16 megabits as the maximum.
•   We have had issues converting certain codecs in the past such as YCrCb or LAM (LAME). Please avoid these if possible. We will contact you if any entries have converting issues and work with you to fix it as soon as we can. 

Audio:
•   Use Layer-II or Layer-III audio at 224 Kilobits per second or better
•   Choose stereo over joint stereo for best quality
•   Sample at 44.1Khz

        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.

           *Note! 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 4 genres as follows:
        • ACTION - Think Action, Adventure, Horror things that tell an exiting story.
        • DRAMA -  Think Drama, Romance things that tell a story that makes you feel.
        • COMEDY- Think Comedy, Parody, just things that really make you laugh.
        • EXPERIMENTAL - Think outside the box! Movie Trailer AMV will be included in this category. (any FMV that pushes the limits and crosses genre barriers, A.K.A the ones we can't categorize)


Notifications
   Different notifications will be sent out to each contestant depending on how far they made it through judging. I will post copies of the Email's on the forums and a description of what they mean to avoid any confusion.


1st Email – This will be sent to you notifying you that your video has been received and logged into our system.


2nd Email – There will be two different types sent out. Type A will be informing you that you have made it into the contest. Type B will be informing you yours was not chosen this year.


3rd Email – This Email will be sent to everyone giving you the time, date, and seating arrangements.
     

100 Point Judging Scale:
        35 Points – Skill/Technical Prowess
        35 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 – Quality of Audio selection – "Does the music fit the tone or selection of anime used in your Music Video" and "Does the quality in general sound ok?"
        15 Points – Quality of source material – "Does you video have the DivX Logo? Does your video look grainy when expanded to full screen? Subtitles will hurt this score."
         

EXTRA POINTS:
2 Extra points will be given to those who submit on or before April 24rd, 2013
5 Extra points will be given to those that submitted properly – This one must be self evident, you need to submit the right information in the right format. Videos adhere to the submission guidelines regarding formatting, codecs. 


*Note! Please keep in mind that the 100 point scale and any extra points are assigned per judge on the judges panel. This means that every point has the potential to make or break a winner.


        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 along with those that did make it into the contest during the con in-between programming during the convention.


        Award Classifications

            • Judges Choice:
                    Judges Choice will be decided prior to Fanime Con and will not be announced until the Award Ceremony.
            • Viewers Choice:
                    The attending audience of the finals judging will decide Viewers Choice. All audience members will vote on their favorite video by ballot.
            • Bonus Awards:
                    Special awards in their own special theme that you're able to get no matter what genre you enter into. (Think bonus stars in Mario Party  ;) )
                    This year's bonus awards are:
                    • The "Best Minute Ever!" Award - Can you make an amazing AMV that clocks in at a minute long or less?
                    • The "Life After Death" Award - Is your AMV focused on the undead? Are the stars of your AMV zombies, vampires, or ghosts? Then this might be for you!
                    • The "Sickeningly Sweet" Award - Chibis? Cute Animals? CUTE CHIBI ANIMALS? Is your AMV's cute factor over 9000? If it has tons of babies, cute furry animals, or is just overly   
                                                                            saturated with super cuteness, then this might be right up your alley.
                    •The "Satin Panties" Award - Can you make a provocative AMV with super sexy characters? Even more important, can you keep it PG so that we can actually
                                                                   show it? They can be laughing or blowing things up. It doesn't matter as long as you think they look good doing it.

Each genre will have a winner. There will also be two Best of Show awards chosen out of all submissions (one from Judges and one from Audience). One of each Bonus Awards will be given to the video that best represents the spirit of that award's theme out of ALL entries. 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. Any awards unclaimed at con will be mailed out.


      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 2013 reserves the right to make amendments to the rules at any time.
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Tsu

Exciting!!

So, a couple questions. Is there still a judges choice award for each category, or has it been reduced to just judges best in show?

Is there still a scale of 3rd/2nd/1st for each category?

If no videos make the finals that fit those specialty awards, will they simply not be awarded?

Any prizes this year?

I guess that was more than a couple... :P Thanks!
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Second 2016-17
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Head 2014-15, 2018-2019

Marin Jei El

Thanks for the questions!
There will still be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each category in Judge's and Audience Awards for each category.
If no one makes the finals showing that meets the theme of the bonus award then the award will not be given out i.e. no one submits a video under a minute, etc...
Also, we are still confirming the prizes, but we are anticipating a $50 Visa Gift Card for each 1st place in each category (both Judge's and Audience) and for each Best In Show (again, both Judge's and Audience Awards). The Bonus Awards will come with an award certificate, however not gift card.

Hope that answers your questions! Cheers!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Xia

#3
When I save my FMVs, the details state that the frame rates are 854 by 480. (I use WMM). The original video source is a 4:3 ratio. Will submitting a FMV or two with those parameters work, or will I have to change it to 720 by 480?

Marin Jei El

There should be a option to convert that into a 16:9 aspect ratio by having the converter add black bars so as not to stretch your image. You can do that on your end or send your submission and we shouldn't have an issue doing it. The benefit of doing it on your end is you get to make absolutely sure that the result is to your liking before it goes before the Judge's panel. Cheers!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Tsu

Any chance you'll be doing the same thing as last year with the updates?

QuoteFirst off, we will be posting updates as we near the deadlines for this years contest regarding the number of entries received in each category. We will also be posting previous year's numbers so that you can better decide what kind of FMV entry to submit. This comes from the overwhelming number of outstanding submissions we had last year in the Drama category. Sadly, we did not have a long enough show to accommodate all the totally show worthy FMV's.
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Second 2016-17
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Head 2014-15, 2018-2019

gravity

Woot! This will be and my buddy's first year entering, we're still deciding upon a production team name. Excited and nervous. I looked at a few of last year's winning entries and they're reaaaaally good! I hope to see everyone there!
FanimeCon 2013 Cosplays!

Cardcaptor Sakura (Schoolgirl) ~ 30%
TF2 RED Fem!Snipe (Or Engineer) ~ 0%
Trainer Joey (Pokemon) ~ 0%

Marin Jei El

Hi everyone,
We will be posting the aforementioned updates tomorrow night as well as catching up on all the most current notification emails. If you have sent in your submission(s) but have not gotten an email yet, you will by tomorrow night. Cheers!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Tsu

Looking forward to it!

Quote from: Marin Jei El on April 16, 2013, 08:01:30 PM
Hi everyone,
We will be posting the aforementioned updates tomorrow night as well as catching up on all the most current notification emails. If you have sent in your submission(s) but have not gotten an email yet, you will by tomorrow night. Cheers!
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Second 2016-17
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Head 2014-15, 2018-2019

Marin Jei El

So here's what we have so far for 2013
(please note that it is still early as we usually get a flood of submissions during the last few days before the hard deadline):

Action: 5
Drama: 12
Comedy: 2
Experimental:5

Keep in mind that we usually have enough time per category for 5, maybe 6, entries on average. This is why we have such crazy competition and it hurts us to make cuts. Over the past couple of years we have increased the length of the show from 2 hours up to close to 3 hours as we try to squeeze as many entries as possible into the final show.

For perspective, here are the numbers of each category for the 2012 FMV Contest:

Action: 21
Drama: 18
Comedy: 8
Experimental:6

Please note that the number of entries fluctuates from year to year. We've had years where the total number of entries were close to topping 100 entries from around the world! That being said the ratio of each category seems to stay pretty close to these averages. Last year, every Comedy entry made the cut, but we could always use more as it is a fan favorite!

Let me know what you think!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Dvl_prodAMV

So, I have a question about digital submissions, should we put our entries into a zip file with the text file or do you want us to send the text file as an attachment with a link to the actual video?

Marin Jei El

You can send the info as a text attachment, or in the body of the email, or even in two emails.. As far as the entry you can send the zip if it fits, but I would recommend sending us a download link so that you don't have to compress it so much. Let us know what works for you or if you have any questions.
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

khyaoiness

So, I sent an entry a few weeks ago on the 4th, and I never got an email saying it was received. Should I send it again?
Kingdom Hearts is awesome
as cosplaying as it makes it even better ^^
~Fantasy is always there when reality fails you~

Marin Jei El

Yes. Just in case. We're going through another round of entry processing tomorrow night. When as we finish each round we post in the "Email Updates" topic.

http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/topic,18242.0.html
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

RADX888

I sent a submission yesterday but I was wondering if that "soft deadline" refers to when you check the file/actually view it.

Marin Jei El

We actually check the videos as we go along. Once you've gotten a confirmation email, it means that we checked it and everything is playing just fine. The soft deadline is an "early" deadline where editors can submit early for bonus points added to their scores in the Judge's Panel. These bonus points can make a huge difference in overall score as they are multiplied per judge on the panel. THat is to say the bonus is 2 points per judge!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Marin Jei El

Quote from: khyaoiness on April 22, 2013, 11:05:46 PM
So, I sent an entry a few weeks ago on the 4th, and I never got an email saying it was received. Should I send it again?

Hi khyaoiness!
We just doubled checked and we had sent an email out to you for your entry. There should have also been an email regarding needing to confirm your street address. Please just shoot us an email with that info. Also, Tiffany has resent out your confirmation email tonight. Please let me know if any problems come up. Thanks!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Tsu

If you've got the time, is there any chance you could post the numbers of videos received that made it in for the soft deadline? It'd be enlightening to see how many come in at the last possible minute and how many have the 2-point "edge".
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Second 2016-17
Fanimecon Music Video Contest Department Head 2014-15, 2018-2019

Marin Jei El

Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]

Marin Jei El

Quote from: Marin Jei El on April 28, 2013, 09:19:03 AM
Yep! I will post that tonight!
Sorry. Didn't get a chance to post these tonight. I will post the new numbers on Monday night. Cheers!
Fanime Music Video Contest Dept. Head
Any Questions or Comments send to:
[email protected]