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CosFest Competition Guidelines |
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Whether you are competing for the first time or have a long history with competition, it's always possible we are doing something different than you might expect. It is your responsibility to read the rules and make sure you understand them. It is also your responsibility ask questions if you are confused. We are here to help you. Let us know your questions and we will do our best to clarify. Please feel free to
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PMX CosFest 2009 RULES AND GUIDELINES
CosFest Competition Guidelines |
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Whether you are competing for the first time or have a long history with competition, it's always possible we are doing something different than you might expect. It is your responsibility to read the rules and make sure you understand them. It is also your responsibility ask questions if you are confused. We are here to help you. Let us know your questions and we will do our best to clarify. Please feel free to
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. Questions regarding the Cosfest are welcome, questions regarding costumes and construction should be asked in the forums.
Online CosFest registration is now closed. However, you may still sign up for the event at the convention. We will be accepting at-con sign-ups in the CosFest Office, located on the Hilton second floor in room Catalina D, during the hours of 2-9pm Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday. For further info, please read the rules below.
- 1. Registration
- 2. Basic Requirements
- 3. Music
- 4. Emcee
- 5. Presentations/Walk-ons
- 6. Awards
- 7. Exhibitions & Special Performances
- 8. Damages
1. Cosplay Festival (CosFest) Competition Registration
- Pre-register for CosFest online. Online registration opens on Saturday, August 15th and closes on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
- The show will be limited to 45 entries. Any sign-ups received after these 45 spots are filled will be put on the waiting list. (In other words, groups 1-45 are "registered groups"; 46+ are "waiting list" groups. If you are Group 50 that means you are #5 on the Waiting List.) Participants are strongly urged to pre-register as soon as possible to ensure a space in the show. After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail to inform you of your status within 24 hours. If you are on the waiting list, you will also be notified if/when you are moved into in the show.
- [UPDATE] If there are still openings available by the time pre-registration closes, you may sign up for the contest at-con. At-con registration will be on Friday from 2-8pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
- At the convention, you must check-in at the CosFest Office to confirm your entry's registration and participation in the show.
- [UPDATE] If you do not check your entire entry in to confirm at the CosFest Office by 2pm on Saturday, November 7th, you will be removed from CosFest.
- [UPDATE] If you are on the waiting list, especially if you are within the top 20 groups, please be sure to check with the CosFest Office on Friday or before 2pm on Saturday to see if any spots in the show have become available. Please bring your entire group and your music and/or skit audio with you so we can get you into the show if there is an opening.
- All contestants must be paid attendees of Pacific Media Expo 2009. All members in your entry will need to show us a badge at check in, and you will each receive a contestants' access sticker on the back. You will need your badge and sticker to get backstage before the show. Any individuals who do not have attendee badges at the convention will be removed from the show.
- Please make sure your group's contact information is active and your primary contact person will be available for communication, as the CosFest Coordinator may need to inform you of an important update. If your contact information changes, please
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as soon as possible. If your e-mail bounces and/or your phone number doesn't work, we will be forced to remove you from CosFest.
- Every member in your group must be checked in at the registration desk. We will verify your entry information and allow you to make changes, if needed. If you choose to participate in craftsmanship judging, you will also sign up for a judging timeslot.
- All entrants wishing to enter for craftsmanship judging (not required, but encouraged) must fill out a Craftsmanship Judging Form prior to their judging slot.
- All entrants under 18 must submit a parental consent form to be admitted into CosFest. All entrants 14 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- All entrants must sign a liability waiver to participate in CosFest.
- [UPDATE] CosFest will be held on Saturday, November 7th at 6:30pm.
2. Basic Requirements
- All costumes must be based on one of the following categories:
- Asian films
- Asian animation
- Asian comics
- Asian-origin video game
- Asian music stars
- Asian history, culture, or mythology (e.g. historical recreation, Elegant Gothic Lolita, Elegant Gothic Aristocrat, original Asian folkloric costume, etc.)
- Sources that are non-Asian in origin, but explicitly influenced by Pacific-Asian culture (e.g. Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kill Bill)
If you aren't sure whether your costume qualifies, you are more than welcome to
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and ask.
- Your presentation must be directly related to Asian popular culture. However, we do allow the use of non-Asian music in your skit. You may use the latest popular American movies, commercials, TV shows, etc., as an influence, but we strongly request that you keep your presentation's content appropriate to your character. If you aren't sure whether your skit plans are appropriate, please ask.
- We don't mind if you have worn your costumes to other conventions or competitions. However, any costume that has been entered in a previous Pacific Media Expo masquerade is ineligible for re-entry.
- Costumes that have been purchased or rented from a costume shop, designer direct, eBay, Yahoo Auctions, Yahoo Japan Auctions, Cospa, any other costume store or online resource, or any costumes made for you by a designer or seamstress, are absolutely prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule will be removed from CosFest and disqualified from any craftsmanship and/or performance awards. Honesty is always the best policy. It is acceptable if one person in your group made all the costumes in an entry; however, that person alone is eligible for a craftsmanship award and MUST be a part of your group.
There are two notable exceptions to this policy:
- "Found Item" costumes are allowed. A "found item" costume is a costume that was built by collecting various pieces from thrift shops or normal clothing stores and combining them together in a unique way (with or without sewing/alterations) to make a costume.
- If the participant is in the Junior/Youth division, we completely understand if a parent, relative or guardian made or helped to make the costume. However, if this is the case, we would appreciate that said parent, relative or guardian be present at CosFest to answer the judges' questions and to supervise the participant.
- Each contestant may present (wear) one and only one costume, or a group of people may wear one costume at the same time (i.e., a large costume that requires several people inside to move it). Multiple entries worn by the same person, or one entry worn by multiple people at different times, will not be allowed. There are no exceptions.
- [UPDATE] There is a mandatory pre-show meeting on Saturday, November 7th at 3pm (room TBA). You must be stage-ready with your costume and contestants need to bring their badge with access sticker. All contestants will need to be there for roll-call and a brief CosFest orientation. If you do not attend this meeting, it will be assumed that you have dropped and you will be removed from the show.
- Please be aware that we are unable to provide food to contestants backstage. We recommend that you plan your meals before the show accordingly.
3. Music
- We require pre-recorded audio for all entries. This audio can be background music or fully dialogued skit. Any dialogue MUST be pre-recorded; no open mics will be available for use on-stage. (We highly discourage attempts to speak live dialogue on-stage without a mic, because we can guarantee that no one will be able to hear you.)
- If you do not have audio, we can provide background music for you at the convention if need be. However, we will not have recording equipment and cannot help you record dialogue or edit a skit.
- If you are a walk-on, please pick appropriate music for your costume. If you forget, we will have a collection of songs at the convention for you to choose from. We will fade the music as you walk off the stage.
- You may submit your audio to us either online before the convention, or in the CosFest Office at-con.
- Online submissions must be sent no later than Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Please send your audio to sir_cmyst(at)yahoo(dot)com. If you do not submit online by November 3rd, you must submit your audio at the convention. If your file is too large to send as an attachment, we recommend using a file transferring service such as YouSendIt.
- If you are submitting audio personally at the convention, please bring it to the CosFest Office during open hours.
- Acceptable file formats are .wav and .mp3. At-con, you may submit via audio CD, data CD, data DVD, USB device or SD card. Please include the name of your entry when you submit your audio.
- [UPDATE] You must have your audio submitted by 3pm on Saturday, November 7th or you will not be allowed to participate.
- Bring back-ups of your audio to the convention. While we will do our best on our end, there is always the chance that something out of our control may unexpectedly go wrong. It's good to be prepared just in case.
- Your dialogue and/or music must be no longer than the time permitted for your entry. If your music and/or prerecorded routine is longer than the time limit your type of presentation is permitted, we will trim to the correct length. The time limits are:
Walk-Ons -- 30 seconds (0:30)
Skits & song/dance routines -- 2 minutes (2:00)
- You do not have to use your entire time allotment. Furthermore, the tech crew will fade your music when you leave the stage.
- The tech crew is not going to pause or resume your dialogue for you. All audio tracks will be played as-is. If you think something is going to get a laugh, it's wise to leave a pause in your recording at that point before continuing. Even if you get just a chuckle from the audience, at least it won't interfere with any following dialogue.
- ** If you need editing software, many have good experiences with Audacity for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can download a copy (Open Source) and fiddle around with it. Otherwise, you can always try searching for alternative audio editing programs.
4. The Emcee (MC)
- Any narration to be read by the emcee will be limited to 35 words or less. All narration by the emcee will be read prior to your performance.
- Emcee narration is optional. If you choose not to submit a narration, the emcee will read your entry name and number before your performance.
- Please do not interact with the emcee. We prohibit any involvement with the emcee in your skit. We also prohibit any emcee dialogue during your performance.
5. Presentations and Walk-ons
- We require music (and/or prerecorded dialogue) for all entries. (See Music guidelines above for audio submission details.)
- If a skit/walk-on goes beyond the time limit, all members of said entry will be removed from the stage and the entry will be disqualified. The time limits are as follows, based on entry type:
Walk-Ons -- 30 seconds (0:30)
Skits & song/dance routines -- 2 minutes (2:00)
- The maximum number of members for your group is 8 people. If more than the approved number of contestants appear on stage, the group will be disqualified. If an entry requires any special helpers, please explain to the CosFest Coordinator for approval.
- [UPDATE] All entries must enter and exit the stage from the stairs located at stage left. (For those that are unfamiliar with theater directions: If you are standing on the stage and looking out at the audience, the entry/exit stairs will be located to your left.)
- [UPDATE] The stage dimensions are estimated to be 32' wide x 18' deep, with a front section that's 16' wide x 6' deep.
- We will allow parents to be backstage with participants aged 14 & under. While it is not required, it is highly recommended and encouraged, especially for participants aged 12 & under.
- Please be tasteful in creating your presentation. Nothing is allowed that would be banned in a "PG"-rated film. Actions, dress, or mannerisms that would not be allowed on a public street or thoroughfare must be avoided. Specifically, the following must be avoided: explicit sexual gestures, nudity, and explicit swearing. Violating these rules will disqualify you and possibly result in your being escorted off the premises.
- Please don't wear or use any messy substances that might ruin the costume of another contestant. If you are wearing body paint or make-up, please make sure it will not come off in casual contact with others. Do not leave anything on the stage that cannot be picked up by the stage ninjas in a few seconds. Costumes must be self-contained. Connections to electrical sockets will not be available.
- Nothing that the Pacific Media Expo staff feels may pose a danger to people or the stage area will be allowed.
- Display weapons are allowed if appropriate to the costume. Display means display; live steel (metal) will not be allowed under any circumstances. If you have any questions concerning what qualifies as "live steel", please ask the Cosplay Coordinator ahead of time. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Please bring your weapons when you check in because it may need to go through a security check. Any weapons not checked in will not be allowed on stage. Please see our full Weapons Policy.
- No fire, flash powder, lasers, explosives or open flame of any kind will be allowed. Electronic flashes will be permitted provided that you notify the Cosplay Coordinator in advance, and it must be announced in your MC introduction to protect those who may be affected by the flashing lights.
- We do not allow jumping off the stage, nor do we allow entering or exiting the stage from any area that has not been approved by the Cosplay Coordinator. Jumping off the stage will result in instant disqualification. Please use the designated exits. All presentations must be confined to the stage area. The aisles and other audience areas are not to be used for any part of the presentation.
- Feel free to surprise the audience, but not the CosFest Coordinator. If you are planning something "unique", please discuss it with the CosFest Coordinator in advance.
- While we would not exercise it lightly, we do have the right to cancel your performance at any time.
6. Awards
- The following awards will be given in the contest:
- Best of Show
- Junior (Youth) Achievement
- Best Presentation
- Second Place, Presentation
- Best Group Craftsmanship
- Second Place, Group Craftsmanship
- Best Individual Craftsmanship
- Second Place, Individual Craftsmanship
Many awards come with cash prizes. Additional awards may be given out if the Judges deem it appropriate.
- All Craftsmanship Judging occurs prior to CosFest itself. To be eligible for a Craftsmanship Award, you must make an appointment to be judged. Appointments for judging will be made at the CosFest Office check-in desk. Judging timeslots will be reserved when you check-in at the convention on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- All Craftsmanship contestants must fill out a Craftsmanship Judging Form, which will be provided when you check in at the convention.
- [UPDATE] All Craftsmanship judging will take place before the show on Friday from 7-9pm and on Saturday 10am-3pm. You will sign up for your craftsmanship judging time when you check in at the CosFest Office. Friday slots are available by special appointment ONLY, please e-mail the CosFest coordinator if you would like to request Friday judging. We highly recommend requesting Friday judging if you are available, as you will be much more likely to get all the time you need with the judges - we cannot guarantee this on Saturday.
- All Craftsmanship judging participants must also be approved entries for CosFest and must participate on-stage (with a presentation or a walk-on) in CosFest.
- The Craftsmanship Judges strongly recommend that each competitor bring at least one color reference picture, preferably more, of each character the costume entry represents. A black and white image is acceptable if you have designed a manga-based costume. We recommend that the images you choose show the character from head-to-toe (especially if they are in the costume you are presenting), if possible. For original costumes, we recommend either concept/design sketches or images that show influences behind your creation. We also strongly recommend bringing in progress photos or other craftsmanship documentation.
- Individual Craftsmanship Awards may be won by a single person that is not part of a group, or by a group member being judged as an individual. Being judged as an individual does not preclude you from being judged as part of a group (we actually encourage you to be judged as both; but you must be judged for both all at one time).
- Please note that an entire group does not have to participate in the Craftsmanship judging. If any individuals from a group choose to be judged as individuals, and not at all as a group, that's fine.
- If the entire group designed and constructed the costumes together and if you wish to win a Group Craftsmanship award, you must be judged as a group and all members of the group must be judged at the same time.
- If one person in your group made all of the costumes, that person alone is eligible for a special craftsmanship award, the Designer's Award. The designer must be present at craftsmanship judging to explain the construction techniques used, and they must be present at CosFest with his/her model(s). In this case, the designer wins the award, not the group. The designer must also be a costumed member of the group. (This only applies to craftsmanship judging; it has no bearing on eligibility for presentation awards.)
- An individual (or a member of a group being judged as an individual) must have designed or constructed his/her own costume by himself/herself to win an Individual Craftsmanship Award.
- Every contestant needs to be prepared to answer the judges' questions about his/her role in the construction of his/her costume.
- While craftsmanship judging is highly recommended, it is not required. An entry may opt to present on stage only. Such an entry will only be eligible for a presentation award.
7. Exhibitions & Special Performances
- Exhibition entries and Special Presentations are not eligible to receive any awards.
- An Exhibition entry is one that solely chooses to show off a special costume(s) on stage. Exhibitions are subject to a 2-minute time limit. The emcee narration must state that the entry is an Exhibition. Exhibition entries will go on stage after the award-eligible entries have finished. No more than 10 exhibition entries will be accepted.
- Special Presentations are allowed a longer time allocation for rehearsed routines (e.g., a singer, martial arts troupe, dancers, etc). No more than 2 Special Presentations will be accepted. Please discuss time allocation with the CosFest Coordinator.
- All Exhibition and Special Presentation requests must be submitted to the CosFest Coordinator for approval. The Coordinator may request a photographic, audio or video sample of your costume/routine prior to granting approval.
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8. Damages
- Pacific Media Expo 2009's damages policy is basically this: if you break a piece of equipment, deface the facilities, or cause any other damages, then you pay to replace what you damaged.
- How does one prevent damages? Please simply exercise care when you are on or near the stage. Be aware of floor microphones, cables, speakers, curtains, screens, etc. No "horse-play" will be tolerated, and take care that large props/costumes will not cause any problems. Be mindful of staff, your fellow attendees, and our event space. Do not leave a mess.
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News
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