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 contact
the Masquerade Coordinator with your questions and/or
comments.
Masquerade Registration
- You must pre-register for the Masquerade online.
Online registration closes on May 15, 2004. You can
check to see if you are registered
here. Groups 1 - 60 are "Registered Groups", Groups
61+ are the "Waiting List Groups". So, if you are
Group 65 that means you are #5 on the Waiting List.
- The Masquerade Coordinator will be e-mailing the
primary contact for your group on a regular basis
with imporant updates. You must keep your contact
information updated. If your e-mail is bouncing
and/or your phone number no longer works, we will
be forced to remove you from the Masquerade or the
Waiting List. You can update your contact information
by
e-mailing the Masquerade Coordinator.
- If there are still openings available, we will
have at-con registration. The Masquerade space is
limited to 60 spots, therefore you are urged to sign
up as soon as possible. A Waiting List of entries
will be created in order to fill any spots left vacant
by Registered Groups who have canceled. The Waiting
List moves into the Registered Groups based on when
that person/group registered for the Masquerade. If
you are "Waiting List 1" you will be the first to
get in if a Registered Group cancels. By being placed
on the Waiting List you recognize that you may or
may not become a part of the Masquerade Contest.
- If you are on the Waiting List, especially if you
are in the top 20 groups, please be sure to check
in at the Masquerade Registration Desk on Sunday,
May 30, 2004, from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm to see if there
are any spots available. Please bring your entire
group, your music (see
Music Section), and your script with you.
- All contestants must be attending members of Pacific
Media Expo 2004 and will need to provide a badge at
both check-in and at the Masquerade itself.
- All participants will be asked to sign a permission/waiver
form.
- For legal reasons, minors may not participate in
the Masquerade unless given written permission by
a legal guardian. We request that the minor's guardian
sign the permission/waiver form in advance. Please
bring the signed copy with you if you are under 18
years of age.
- You must check-in to confirm your registration
at the Masquerade Registration desk Pacific Media
Expo on Saturday, May 29 or Sunday, May 30, 2004.
The hours and location of the Masquerade Check-in
will be posted on the Masquerade
Timeline.
- Everyone must checked in and have their music/audio
(see Music Section)
confirmed by 2:00 pm Sunday, May 30, 2004, or you
will not be allowed to participate.
Basic Requirements
- All costumes must be based on Asian film (such
as characters from Battle Royale (Japan) or
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (China)),Asian
animation (such as the Japanese animation Yu-Gi-Oh
or the Korean animation Wonderful Days), Asian
comics (such as the Japanese Card Captor Sakura,
Korean I.N.V.U, or Chinese Story of the
Tao), Asian-origin video game (such as Final
Fantasy or Ragnarok Online), or Asian music
stars (such as Malice Mizer). The rule of thumb is:
if the series and/or character originated anywhere
else than the Pacific, it doesn't qualify. If you
aren't sure, ask.
- Your presentation must be directly related to Asian
popular culture. We do allow the use of American (and
other non-Asian) music in your skit. You may use the
latest popular American movies, commercials, TV shows,
etc., as an influence, but we request that you act
as your character would in that situation. If you
aren't sure if your skit plans are appropriate, please
ask.
- We don't mind if you have worn your costumes to
other 2004 conventions or competitions.
- Please note that costumes 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 prohibited. Ignoring
this rule will negate your eligibility (and your group's
eligibility; even if only one person in the group
has a disqualified costume) to participate in the
Masquerade and will also disqualify you for any performance
and/or craftsmanship awards. Honesty is always the
best policy; tell us if one person in your group made
all the costumes. That person (as long as they are
a member of your group) is still eligible for a Design
Award (see the Awards section for more details). There
are two notable exceptions to the "purchased or rented"
policy:
Exception 1: "Found Item" costumes are allowed.
This is basically a costume that was built by collecting
various appropriate pieces from normal clothing
stores and combining them together in a unique way
(with or without sewing) to make a costume.
Exception 2: If the participant is in the
Junior/Youth division, we completely understand
if Mom and/or Dad (or a guardian) made or helped
to make the costume. However, if this is the case,
we would appreciate that Mom and/or Dad (or the
guardian) be present at the Masquerade 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. No
exceptions.
- There is a mandatory meeting on Sunday, May 30,
2004 at 5:00pm in [LOCATION TBA]. You must be stage-ready
(in your costume) and contestants need to bring their
Backstage Passes. All contestants will need to be
there for Roll Call and the Masquerade Orientation.
- The Masquerade Cosplay Competition will be held
on Sunday, May 30, 2004, at 7:00pm at the Anaheim
Convention Center Arena.
All About Music
- There will be microphones on the stage.
- We strongly suggest, due to our time constraints,
that you pre-record your dialogue and mix it in advance
(see the Music Submission
FAQ for tips).
- We require music (and/or prerecorded dialogue)
for both skits/presentations and walk-ons.
- If you are a walk-on, please pick appropriate music
for your costume. If you forget, we will have music
CDs at the convention for you to choose from. We will
fade the music as you walk off the stage.
- Everyone must have their music/audio confirmed
by 2:00pm Sunday, May 30, 2004, or you will not be
allowed to participate.
- Please make sure you read the
Masquerade Timeline to see when Music Submission
will be at Pacific Media Expo.
- All music for your skit must be provided in advance
(i.e., online or during Pacific Media Expo 2004 Music
Submission hours).
- Please read the Music
Submission FAQ for further details on the types
of files and media that we can accept. We will not
accept audio tapes.
- Due to popular demand, we will offer limited services
for pre-recording and mixing (speech with music) at
the convention. Please keep in mind that if you choose
to record at the convention that it will be your responsibility
to make sure the mix is appropriate to your needs.
Also, plan accordingly (get to the Masquerade Music
Submission Desk early), practice in advance, make
sure your entire group is there for the recording
session, bring a script with you, and come back during
Music Submission hours to confirm that the mix is
suitable for your needs.
- Your dialogue and/or music "file" must be 3 minutes
exactly, or under. Please note there are no exceptions
to the 3 minute rule. If your music and/or prerecorded
routine is longer than 3 minutes, we will trim to
3 minutes.
- If the sound runs longer than your presentation
(i.e. a commercial CD) or must be cut on cue, please
be very specific as to when to cut. The usual cue
is to fade the sound as the entrant leaves the stage.
It is best, when you want the sound to end at a specific
point on a CD, to record the material you want onto
a recordable medium (such a self-burned CD) in advance
and bring it to Music Submission at the Masquerade
Check-in Desk.
- If you think something is going to get a laugh,
leave a pause after the line before continuing. Even
if you get just a chuckle from the audience, at least
it won't interfere with the following dialogue. It
also makes the tech crew's job easier. They aren't
part of your group and don't attend your skit rehearsals.
They won't know when to "pause" a dialogue. It's not
their job to do that.
- Any media left in our possession will be available
to be picked up at the Masquerade Feedback meeting
on Monday, May 31, 2004. The location and time of
this meeting will be announced on the
Masquerade Timeline.
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.
- 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.
Presentations and Walk-ons
- We require music (and/or prerecorded dialogue)
for both skits/presentations and walk-ons. See the
Music Section for further details.
- If the skit goes beyond the 3-minute mark, the
contestants will be removed from the stage (and you
will be disqualified).
- The maximum number of members for your group is
10 people. If more than the approved number of contestants
appear on stage, the group will be disqualified.
- We will, as always, allow parents to be backstage
with participants aged 14 & under. This is not
required, just recommended (and encouraged), especially
for participants aged 12 & under.
- 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 the Pacific Media Expo staff feel that
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 Masquerade 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 Masquerade
Coordinator in advance, and it must be announced in
your MC introduction to protect those who may be affected
by the flashing lights.
- Nothing is allowed that would be banned in a "PG-13"-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.
- 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 Masquerade 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
Masquerade Coordinator. If you are planning something
"unique", please let the Masquerade Coordinator know
in advance.
- Following the stage appearance, contestants will
be escorted to a Photo Area to pose for a few minutes.
Cosplayers will then be guided back to their seats
and are expected to remain in the Masquerade areas
until the awards presentation concludes.
- We have the right to cancel your performance at
any time for any reason.
Special Performances
- We will allow 2 special performances (total) at
the Pacific Media Expo 2004 Masquerade. A special
performance is exhibition-only (i.e., does not qualify
for awards consideration).
- An accepted entry will be allocated 5 minutes maximum
for a special performance.
- If you are interested, please send us a proposal
for what you want to do in advance. March 2004 is
the latest we will take proposals. We can't guarantee
to accept all proposals. Send your proposals
here. If it's past the deadline you can still
ask for special consideration, but we can't guarantee
anything due to time and equipment constraints.
- Whatever you propose to us is what you must present
(minor adjustments allowed) at Pacific Media Expo
2004. If your performance turns out to be something
other than what we discussed, or the Masquerade Coordinator
believes it to be inappropriate, it will be cut from
the Masquerade.
- Also, please consider that this performance needs
to be something really special; this should not be
simply an extended Masquerade skit. By "special" we
mean instrumental performance, professional-quality
vocal performance, or highly choreographed professional-level
dance routines. We may request some sort of demo tape
and/or video.
- If you register for a special performance you may
not have a Masquerade spot (the two minute spot).
It's one or the other. No exceptions.
- Keep in mind that you can't cancel your special
performance and expect to instantly be given a registered
spot in the normal Masquerade. Unless there is an
opening, you will be put at the end of the Waiting
List.
- We have the right to cancel your performance at
any time for any reason.
Masquerade Award Guidelines
- Award Category 1: Presentation
The presentation awards are based on your skit, routine,
walk-on, or performance. The quality of your costume
often factors into your presentation, but simple costumes
have won the highest awards in the past when coupled
with a superior skit or routine.
- Best of Show, Presentation
- Honorable Mention, Presentation
- Judges Award, Presentation
- Judges Award, Presentation
- Judges Award, Presentation
- Best of Show, Presentation, Junior/Youth
- Award Category 2: Craftsmanship
The craftsmanship awards are based on the design,
construction, execution, and general presentation
of your costume.
- Best of Show, Craftsmanship, Group
- Honorable Mention, Craftsmanship, Group
- Best of Show, Craftsmanship, Individual
- Honorable Mention, Craftsmanship, Individual
- Judges Award, Craftsmanship
- Judges Award, Craftsmanship
- Judges Award, Craftsmanship
- Design Award*,
Craftsmanship
- All Craftsmanship Judging occurs prior to the Masquerade
itself. In order to participate in the Craftsmanship
Award category, you must make an appointment to be
judged (at the Masquerade Check-in Desk). Details
on times & locations for Craftsmanship Judging
will be provided on the Masquerade
Timeline.
- All Craftsmanship contestants must fill out a Craftsmanship
Judging Form. These forms will also be available at
the convention, but if you want to be proactive you
can
download the form here.
- Everyone must be judged for Craftsmanship on Saturday,
May 29. The only exceptions (who will be judged on
Sunday, May 30, 2004) are: those who need to apply
heavy makeup or body paint, those participating in
emergency check-in on Saturday, and Waiting List groups
(who may be accepted into the Masquerade on Saturday
morning). If you need to be judged on Sunday, May
30, 2004, it must be prearranged
with the Masquerade Coordinator before May 15,
2004.
- All Craftsmanship judging participants must also
be approved entries for the Masquerade and must participate
(with a presentation or a walk-on) in the Masquerade
on Sunday, May 30, 2004.
- The Craftsmanship Judges recommend that each competitor
bring at least one color picture, preferably two,
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), but
this is not required. The judges also appreciate craftsmanship
documentation (also known as costume construction
diaries).
- Individual Craftsmanship Awards may be won by a
single person (not a member 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
for that group, solely that person is eligible, and
only for an Design Award. The group is ineligible
for Group Craftsmanship Awards. Also, that person
must be a participating and costumed member of said
group.
- 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. Here are
some sample questions that the judges may ask.
- 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. No
exceptions.
- Any Craftsmanship materials left in our possession
will be available to be picked up at the Masquerade
Feedback meeting on Monday, May 31, 2004. The location
and time of this meeting will be announced on the
Masquerade Timeline.
* What is a Design Award?
One designer may design and construct the costumes
for an individual model or for a group who serve
as model/models. This designer must be present at
the judging to explain the construction techniques
used, and they must be present at the Masquerade
with his/her model/models. If this is a group presentation,
the designer must also wear a costume. The designer
wins the award, not the group.
Damages
- Pacific Media Expo 2004'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 the stage. Be aware of floor
microphones, cables, speakers, curtains, screens,
etc.
Pacific Media Expo 2004 Weapons
Policy
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