The Winner of the H4L/NBAD Season Opener Mixmaking Contest

[VenomIndustries]

Well just let me briefly mention a couple things first. I'll start by saying thank you to all of you who entered, it was a great contest and we got to see a lot of great mixes. I want to thank the judges as well for devoting so much of their own time to make some very difficult decisions. And finally I want to thank the NBAD crew for helping us out. Prizes will be given out shortly, and for those who earned money I am sure abcproductions will be contacting you with details. But I'll just quit talking now, and get to the part everyone wants to see.

The winner of the 2009-2010, Hoops4Life/NBADimensions Season Opener Mixmaking Contest is...


Dinoman - Anticipation
Youtube Link


The 2nd Place Runner Up Is...

Renhigotare - NBA 2KX
Youtube Link


The 3rd Place Runner Up Is...

Potpono - Beyond Comparison
Youtube Link


And those who barely just missed making the top 3...
Ricemixtape, Tom10, Bunker, and M1tya


Dinoman will receive 10,000 points, Renhigotrare will receive 5,000, and Potpono will receive 3,000 points. Special thanks to all those that donated points.

3000 - Fresh
1091 - Omfg
1001 - Nitelite
1000 - BPT7
645 - Potpono
500 - Chuck Inglish
.001 - Suphomes

Congrats to everyone who placed in the top 3, you all made some legendary mixes that will stand in mixmaking history. I also want to say congrats to those who just missed the cut, you also made some damn good mixes, and you deserve your recognition. You all made a judge's job very difficult to do. Thanks again to everyone who entered, and stay ready for the next contest. H4L will be back hosting their All Star mix contest in early 2010.

____________________________________________

And here are just some of my comments for those top mixers.

Dinoman: I don't usually like telling people my votes but in this case I don't think there was any doubt you had the best overall mix. It was simply the most balanced and solid one in the whole contest. Sure there were people who had better aspects of their mixes, but your's had a tremendous balance. The color correction was just beautiful, I really loved the blue vignette. The AE text was good, and fit in well to set up the theme.

But what I liked best about your mix, better than any other mix, was the timing and suspense you created. In particularly in the beginning, you set up this very tense situation. And then around the :38 second mark you just hear, "sixers without a timeout." And then the clock ticks down, the ball gets launched into the air… and then nothing. You just cut to a game winning shot of Pierce, but again you don't see it hit. Same again with Ray Allen. Then all of a sudden, bam! Shot hits net. That's the very definition of suspense, the kind of suspense Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of. From that moment on, this was your contest to lose. No one created the suspense, atmosphere, or emotion than what you did. So congrats man, you realy deserved this one.


Renhigotrare: Jesus christ that AE work was sexy as hell. I mean, it was really really good. There really isn't much more to say about the maps that hasn't been said. They provide a great transition from city to city, and set up the theme of the new season. A season of new beginnings and fresh starts. But I wanna talk about the other effects, the effects that impressed me more so than the maps. First the effect at 30 seconds in, right at ron artest. I mean holy crap, I have no idea how you did that, but it seemed like a transition you would see in a sci-fi film. And then even better at like 40 seconds, the effects over Lebron and Kobe that just make them both look like machines out on a mission to kill. You just reminded everyone that you can not only make a great lyrical mix, but you can still create effects as good as the best. I mean, everything in the mix was good, from the effects, to the editing, to the color correction. But where do you get off cutting the mix off 2 mins in huh? I could have easily watched that mix for another 3 minutes. What kind of **** tease are you trying to pull here? I'm greedy and I want more!


Potpono: The mix certainly turned out great, and had this mythical feel to it. You stressed to me just how important the music was, and you were afraid that since the music had no climax, your mix wouldn't either. Well you don't have to worry about that. Beyond Comparison stands in a unique class of mixes. And it's hard to describe that class because so few mixes can be contained within it. It's a class of mixes that Arlubas is in, nitelite is in, gotrare and some others, and now you have created. You can describe it as lyrical, mythical, or mysterious. They are mixes that have a deeper meaning than that is what represented at the surface. You aim to show in your mix how it's not worthy to compare and contrast their games, but more rather appreciate their games for what it's worth. So I applaud you for stepping outside the box, as a lot of great mixers have before you, and create something unusual to mixmaking. It is a great break from the often mundane highlight reel especials.


Ricemixtape: I'm not sure why a lot of members failed to mention your mix as one of the best in this contest, but the judges sure didn't glance over you. You created a really solid mix, and I absolutely loved the slower parts of the mix with the older throwback clips. Just a really great song to set up that kind of feeling. I do feel when the mix picked up in speed that you lost your identity a bit and got a little sloppy. Like I began to see watermarks a lot, I noticed clip speeds were way off. Like some clips were be a lot faster than normal. It seemed like you used the same dunk sound effect a lot, and didn't mix commentary in with the song vocals too well. But then the mix slows back down again and you go back to your masterful work. So it was really hard to judge you, and find where to place you. Because it is potentially the best mix in the contest, but also makes some easily fixable mistakes. Nonetheless, it was a great mix and is one that I will be watching again and again.


Tom10: You continually rise to the top level of mixmaking with each mix you make. You just do a suburb job with a lot of aspects of mixmaking. Like effects, (the intro was some damn good AE work), with color correction, and high speed edits. I don't know if you were running out of time when you were making this mix though, because it ended way too early. Like I was really just getting into it, and it ended. I'll admit I was a little sad, I wanted more like I did with Gotrares. But still man, you made a good mix. One thing I did like better with this mix than your M2 Playoffs mixes was the use of audio commentary. it fit in very well, so I hope you do that more often.


Bunker: This was a really great introductory mix, just very exciting and enjoyable. The color correction was gritty and the blinking fade effect over the mix was edgy. You picked out some great clips to set up the mix and recap the previous year while kind of foreshadowing the next season. The song was really great, but I felt like the pace or tempo never changed. It's hard to explain, but I didn't feel any valley or peaks in the mix. I think you were a victim of overly seen footage, I really do think that. We all just seen so much of Lebron's MVP season that we know it all. Not until the very end did I feel emotion. When you flashed Lebron's failures, over the clip of him leaning his head up to stare into the camera, and then bam, championship trophy. I really felt that part. But overall it was a very good mix, I loved so much about it, and a lot of other people did as well.

******

Phoenix32: I really liked the concept of the mix, and that was probably the strongest part. It sent a solid message that this season is a new beginning and thus the "prelude to the dream". I liked all the highlight clips you selected, as well as the emotional clips and trade recaps. A couple thinks I would like to see you improve upon is first and foremost, text. It was way too basic/cheesy text. Standard font with a huge glow. I think it would have worked better without the glow, cuz it would be less cheesy. Second, you have to add flair. Now I know a lot of your mixes, and most of them have too m ouch AE work or flair. But this mix seemed to have none, kinda got away from your identity. I would love to see you mix this style in with your older style. So you have some AE flair, but yet, the mix doesn't depend on effects. You get what I'm saying? Good mix overall, I enjoyed it. And I look forward to more of your mixes in the future, as you progress to become better with each one.

[xNavjotx]

Congratulations to Dinoman and all of the participants, it was a good contest.

[coutts1990]

Congrats to The top 3. I cant wait for the next contest

[Gotrare]

Originally Posted by VenomIndustries

Renhigotrare: Jesus christ that AE work was sexy as hell. I mean, it was really really good. There really isn't much more to say about the maps that hasn't been said. They provide a great transition from city to city, and set up the theme of the new season. A season of new beginnings and fresh starts. But I wanna talk about the other effects, the effects that impressed me more so than the maps. First the effect at 30 seconds in, right at ron artest. I mean holy crap, I have no idea how you did that, but it seemed like a transition you would see in a sci-fi film. And then even better at like 40 seconds, the effects over Lebron and Kobe that just make them both look like machines out on a mission to kill. You just reminded everyone that you can not only make a great lyrical mix, but you can still create effects as good as the best. I mean, everything in the mix was good, from the effects, to the editing, to the color correction. But where do you get off cutting the mix off 2 mins in huh? I could have easily watched that mix for another 3 minutes. What kind of **** tease are you trying to pull here? I'm greedy and I want more!

haha, thanks bro, but nope, nothing really, the music is just too short so i have to make it short too, i even extended the middle so all the things i want on the map part can fit... and so that means no more highlight mix for me this year, but maybe some 2mins 3d's or something, and doesnt really need to be monthly, and about those, ill talk with you later, and a last favor...

congrats dinoman, ive voted for you too, you deserve this one bro, the most balance and really easy to understand, no bullsh*t, no crazy things going on, just a plain mix with a message, and that message hyped the hell out me, it just gives you the idea that the nba this season will have more exciting games no matter the team or the players

congrats to potpono too, and all the mixers that was mentioned, it was a blast, you guys did great too... and for all the mixers that participated, congratulations too for making some good mixes...

thanks to the judges too, i think you got this all right, and lastly to NBAD, this contest would have not attract many mixers to do theyre best if it wasnt for you guys... and to H4L, what else can i say... history and loyalty

2nd place is still a win, ill take it any damn day!

[PeteThePrince]

Is there an order to the runner ups?

[VenomIndustries]

Originally Posted by PeteThePrince

Is there an order to the runner ups?

They were all tied. Ricemixtape, Bunker, and Tom10 all got a judges votes from different judges, and I think M1tya got a public poll vote if I remember right. All of the runner up mixes were barely beat out by Potpono in 3rd place. The votes were so tight that even 1st-3rd had barely any separation.

~Venom

[RichtheProdigy]

Congrats to Dinoman, Gotarare, Potpono, Bunker, Tom10, Ricemixtape, M1tya, ans well as everyone who participated. Great job guys.

At least now I know, for the next upcoming contest, i can't make no weaksauce mix.

[xKSNMx]

congratulations to the winners and also to runner ups. well deserved guys. it was a great contest.

[Bunker]

I thought I made a winner. Oh well. Congrats to all the winners!

[Darel]

Great Contest.
Thanks all mixmakers!
Congrutalation Dinoman!