I tried to get more from her during the interview but I could tell it wasn't going to happen. Now Mikaera (Cialea), is someone I was familiar with and a channel I like. http://www.youtube.com/user/Ciaelagreg wrote:Well, if Hanna is actually an intelligent and insightful young woman, then she is not only doing herself a major disservice, but to womanhood in general by putting up those ridiculous videos of her wearing a super-tight tank top, exposing her huge cleavage, introducing poorly pronounced Japanese words and teaching people how to use them in English sentences. The whole Japanese language thing is just an excuse to set her video camera up on a tall tripod looking down her shirt. It'd be more entertaining if she had a brain and would be discussing string theory or something intelligent instead of plucking words from the dictonary of a language she obviously has yet to be proficient in. Case in point: MIZU. She fails to understand that mizu is the word for cold water, and oyu is the word for hot water. Hot water, naturally, is what you'd use to make hot tea. Duhr. It's the blind leading the blind.kndy wrote:Lol...no offense taken regarding the cover. We figured that the cover would attract (or deter) various individuals but we gave her a chance to see how things worked out. For anyone who read the article, I never heard of her at all until I got to the event and people kept asking if I was going to interview her.
As far as bad behavior at cons goes, I think every con has their share of problems. I'm hoping a few friends will join us on this forum from those who created or were in charge of AX, Otakon, Sakura-Con but we'll see.kndy wrote:I actually agree with what you have to say about the fandom.
I've seen and heard of the worse at anime cons to the unusual things that happen after hours. As part of the press and because we are there with GoH, I've seen the worst in guests as well.
But big or small, cons have their problems and the last anime con that I went to, their was a disagreement between a guest of honor and con leadership and for some reason, I'm always end up being the middle man of both sides telling me their woes at anime cons and while most press try to not get involved, I'm usually the type to get them to sit in a room and fix the problem immediately before it gets worse.
One of the biggest things I had to fix was with Japanese guest Momoi Halko who made her US debut at Anime Expo several years ago. Not only was their a mixup on her hotel room, but some staff members that did not know her backstage, treated her as if she was someone insignificant. Needless to say, she posted on her blog that it was the worst experience she ever had at an event and seeing this, her Japanese fans were angry that US would treat her so badly. And her intl. fans, were afraid she would never do an appearance outside of the US ever again.
Fortunately, I interviewed her prior to her appearance at AX and asked her label and management for a statement on her post and it helped smooth things over and calm down the fires. Everything worked out in the end.
But...the craziest thing that I had to pull of was for Anime America 1995 when Megumi Hayashibara was performing in concert. For those familiar with Japanese concerts, especially idol concerts, fans tend to repeat and have fun. But Anime America security wanted no one to stand and wanted people to cheer after the performance. As press, they were strict to everyone including us and I was unable to bring my tablet to write notes or anything, nor bring a camera. I was refused at the door and had to leave my press materials in my hotel room.
This was during the earlier times of anime cons when security were trying to figure things out and I can understand the convention wanting to be strict, but for someone as big as Megumi, I felt it was a disservice to her. So, my press crew took as many anime expo flyers that were given out at the convention. We taped each of the flyer by their sides and we only had a giant marker to write "Ganbatte Kudasai, Megumi!". Because they were AX flyers on the other side, we could roll up the flyers easily and told security when they looked at our hands that it was the flyer being passed outside the venue. So, we they allowed us in.
She kept asking the fans to get into her concert (get up and wave their hands) but it was the first time I saw security squeeze out any excitement from a convention. I could tell that each time she asked for fans to get up and get excited and they didn't, she felt bad. I saw this and I was getting upset and even complaining to friends who worked at anime convention staff about the security plan for this concert was too strict on the audience. Needless to say, We got up, went against security and unrolled the taped sign, stood up and scream "Ganbatte Kudasai, Megumi" and she had a big smile on her face and said thank you!
Afterward, I was told my by my friends at staff that she was not so thrilled by how the concert went and a highlight for her was the group of fans who held a sign out for her during the concert (which was us).
But I've seen it all...good and bad.
My reasons for not going as much is that those old days of going to an anime con for "anime" is not there anymore. The panels for Japanese guests are hardly filled, if there are guests, many put the English dub actors as their "must-see" guests. Even at press conferences, J!-ENT and Anime News Network (or another anime publication) are always the same two groups that are there and it's come down to the point that many are not doing press conferences anymore. This is sad considering that there are all these press attending the event but no one covering or writing. It makes me wonder if all those who submitted for a press badge are cosplay photographers.
I have more to tell, but hopefully some of my friends who are/were anime fans and those who were responsible for these anime cons will be joining the forum and tell their stories.