Curse

Fenryl · Feb 19, 2008, 10:38 AM // 10:38

Yay final assignment ^^ lol!

Good Luck Deus and Scarlet! I can't wait to see your pictures ... and your answers xD

Messy · Feb 19, 2008, 11:22 AM // 11:22

Goof Luck Deus and Good Luck Scarlet!! This is it !!!

CasterOfShame27 · Feb 19, 2008, 08:58 PM // 20:58

Oh wow!!! I just got back from Boston literally an hour ago. Nymph!!!

I'm sorry to see you go. You were seriously SO awesome in this competition, and I did not expect you to go home! I feel honored to have competed with you!

And Deus, best of luck back to you! This will be FIERCE.

Okay so since I can't double post, I'll just add this heh.

I sent in my submission. Can't wait to see what happens-Deus, it was amazing competing with you!

Toutatis · Feb 23, 2008, 03:21 PM // 15:21

My final submission has just been Hotmailed in. I'm still having difficulty believing that this is the grand final. It only seems like we started this contest yesterday.

*mops brow and tries to avoid freaking out*

I can't wait to see what you've come up with this week Scarlet. You are a very worthy opponent! Good luck!

Tender Wolf · Feb 24, 2008, 01:31 AM // 01:31

Here are the submissions for the final assignment! Now this DOES NOT say the winner, these are just the submissions. The winner will be announced ASAP. To determine the winner, we'll use all the previous assignments (and this one) as references, view past performances, etc. 10 points were possible this week for each part of the assignment (answers and picture). Anyway...here they are!

Deus Toutatis
1. What was your favorite assignment and why?

My favourite assignment was assignment 3, "In Tune." I do a lot of work in the music industry, and this was an assignment that I could really sink my teeth into.

This assignment was also a major milestone for me. While doing the research for this assignment I probably took things a bit too seriously and really worked to throw myself into the bare bones of who Navarro is himself, as a person as well as an artist. In the process, I had to take a good long look into the mirror and confront some very dark reflections; aspects of the industry that I thought I was too smart to get involved in. A very humbling experience, although by the time that my submission that week was ready to send in I had come to realise that these were things that I would have had to confront at some point in my own career anyway. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to start to deal with those now; I feel that I'm better prepared to deal with them when they inevitably force their way to the surface later in life.

This was also the assignment where I really started to experiment with backgrounds, angles and lighting effects. In the previous two assignments, I had just knocked things off relatively quickly (and had got mediocre scores as a result) but after putting nothing but my best into assignment 3 and coming out as that week's winner, I suddenly felt that if I could keep on doing that then I would have a good chance of being the overall winner. My attitude went from "let's hope for the best" to "CAN DO!" and I think that attitude change has been a really big help over the course of the competition.

Overall, this assignment was a very positive experience for me in many ways, and that's why I would say that it was my favourite.

2. What was the hardest assignment for you and why?

The hardest assignment for me was probably assignment 4, "Opposites Attract." While all of the assignments offered their own set of challenges, I felt that this assignment was the most difficult one for me.

Both myself and Deus are homosexual men, and have no experience with women at all. I have also never played a female character so I had absolutely no idea how my costar would move or how the overall effect of her in the environment would be. Also, with my costar being relatively short in comparison to Deus (he is a very tall character) it was difficult to get both characters' eyes at a similar level in the shot, and make it so that Deus looked like he wasn't too imposing or unapproachable. Another challenge I had with my costar that week was that she was one of Render's other characters; as Render was still in the competition at that point I didn't want to take up too much of her time (it would have been unfair of me to demand a lot of her time when she also had the assignment to deal with that week).

Overall, this assignment was done under extreme pressure with a lot of constraints and a number of unknowns that made getting a good concept and shot extremely difficult.

3. Who do you believe was your fiercest competitor throughout this competition (even if he or she is already gone) and why?

I think that the fiercest competitor during this contest was Gracie. As probably the youngest competitor in a contest like this ever (in terms of character age), she found herself limited in armor choices and the number of dye combinations and shooting locations she could potentially use as she couldn't travel everywhere that other competitors could and cash was at a premium for her. Despite that, she still managed to give us some great shots, and her cheerful optimism showed though her submissions and made me smile too. With such a positive attitude and ability to work with very limited resources, I have no doubt that if she had not been eliminated in assignment 4's twist of fate, she would have made it into at least the final three.

4. Who do you consider to be your smallest threat and why?

The smallest threat to me in this contest I think was probably Ao. Right from the start, she was competing alongside Nymph to be the Ranger that stood out more, and I felt that she wasn't using her biggest asset - her very cute baby-doll looks - to her advantage. It seemed like she had finally pulled it together for assignment 4, but when assignment 5 came along she lost it again and fell short of distinguishing herself. At the same time, the rest of the competition was really pushing the boundaries and bringing all of their best assets into play. I knew that Ao would eventually be swept away by the tides; in my opinion, she did very well to hang on for as long as she did.

5. What are your feelings on your competitor?

Scarlet is nothing short of a wonderful competitor. While she started off as being average, she has improved a lot over the course of the contest, getting better and better every week, and become truly world-class. She really deserves to be in the final two, and I'm honoured to be competing against such a creative and insightful artist. I know that she won't be disappointing anybody with this final assignment either; when it comes down to an epic battle between two Mesmers, anything can and will happen, and you don't need Geishe's psychic predictions to know that Scarlet will be pulling out all the stops. I'm looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us this week - I have a feeling her submission will be absolutely spectacular. I even suspect that so far, she's been holding back a little in the competition so that she can bring out the big guns this week when they matter the most.

6. What are your overall feelings of this competition and experience?

This competition has been a lot of fun for me. I originally entered this contest to meet some new people, but since then I've found a lot more than just new friends. I've found fellow artists - very rare, unique and special people - who have all shared ideas together and opened up a lot of new and interesting doors. That experience alone is worth more than all of the gold in Greater Tyria.

Every week, this competition has given interesting and challenging assignments, from the predictable (assignment 1), to the pioneering (assignment 3), to the totally off-the-wall (assignment 7); these assignments have challenged all of the contestants to think in new ways and do things from new angles, many of which haven't been done in previous screenshot contests. There have been a few points during the contest where I've been wondering what the judges were smoking (mostly due to the initial scoring system and the confusion that it caused among both the contestants and the fans), although over time the judges have come just as far as the contestants I think, and have come to give scorings and decisions that are of just as high quality as the work submitted by the contestants. My thanks to the judges for all of their hard work!

Overall, I think this contest has been very positive. The assignments, submissions and judging have broken a lot of new ground and set more than a few new standards for future contests. I have no doubt that Guild Wars' Most Wanted Cycle 2 will be just as much of a resounding success, and when it happens I will want to be a part of it!

7. Why should you be Guild Wars' Most Wanted?

Ask a million dollar question, get a million dollar answer:

For every assignment, I have done my best to put on a good show. I have tried to take different approaches for my shots, and upheld my artistic integrity by never doing what I thought was the most obvious thing, preferring to do something challenging, artistic and interesting than predictable and easy. With each submission, I have also included an engaging, carefully thought out and well written writeup, to help explain what the shot is about and why I've chosen certain locations, colour schemes or poses in relation to the assignment goal. The overall aim has been to do what has been asked of me, and then go one step further to help make me stand out against the rest of the competition and give everyone a show to remember.

Standing out has been important for me in this competition. As the only male character to make it into the final cut alongside nine stunningly beautiful ladies, I have needed to go the extra mile to keep public interest and make people want to see more to avoid the elimination bat. In the process, I have also shown that men can not only survive in a field dominated by women, but also exceed all expectations and compete on the same level; my track record of coming top for four of the eight previous assignments speaks for itself on that.

At the same time, I have also managed to show that Deus is more than just a pretty face who can dress up and pose for the camera. He can also act, as shown in Kitiara's "Battleplan" video (Kitiara herself remarked that I was a very quick study during the shooting). Also, with the assignment outtakes I have shown that Deus is a character in his own right as well as entertaining the fans with some extra shots; he is a man with his own dreams and ambitions, his own emotional baggage in life, and his own quirky way of doing things. Very few other contestants have ever come into themselves as colourful and accessible characters in this way. To truly be the Most Wanted, a character needs to bridge the gap between being a still image of a character that very few could potentially relate to and being a living, breathing character who can appeal to the masses, and is a character who people can either love or love to hate; something that Deus has done and then some, for those who have been willing to listen.

That is why I deserve to be Guild Wars' Most Wanted. Deus and I have gone from being an entry who initially looked like they had a snowball's chance in Hell's Precipice to being a true rising star; more than just another male model doomed to fall by the roadside when the public finds that there is no substance behind the illusions given by still images. Deus and I are the ultimate team; never backing away from a challenge, always willing to learn from mistakes, and never settling for second best as the limits get pushed further and further.

Plus, in assignment 8 I achieved the impossible and managed to make the male Mesmer's horrendous pink boxer shorts look attractive, and like they were something that a real man would wear. Surely I deserve some sort of reward for that incredible feat!

Questions:
Judge 1: Very wonderful way to wrap up this contests Deus. Your answers were all very honest and well answered. As you have demonstraited throughout the entire contest, you have a knack for writing so I have no complaints about this at all. Well done.
Judge 2: As our star writer this far, you have not disappointed me with your response to the questions. I'm glad that you accessed the fact that you were the only male in this competition, cause I was kinda curious about that as well

. The humor you showed at the final question also was amusing!
Judge 3: Deus has proved since the beginning that he is outstanding at writing. I think you answered all the questions very clear and to the best of you ability. I lol'd at the pink underwear comment. hehe I love how you basically become your character both in your writing and pictures, and there is really nothing bad I can say about your writing. Good, honest answers!

Picture:
Judge 1: Your photo is just lovely and showcases Deus amazingly well. I love the contrast of colors and your pose is perfect. The ONLY thing that would have made it better in my honest opinion, would have been if you removed your gloves. Still, your photo is awesome.
Judge 2: Spectacular final shot you have here, Dues. To me your pose shows "Lets do this!" and that you tried your hardest throughout the competition (which I'm sure you did, of course). The background is very lovely, and completely non-distracting, I absolutely love the yellow hues.
Judge 3: Very good picture! The first thing I notice is that it looks like your hand is pulling on the vest, so it looks extra stylish, which Deus has been known for. And it does say you're ready for action. The background is nice and subtle to me, it compliments you as well as keeps you the main focus. As for the ship, I would have been confused by it if not for your explanation that Deus is a traveler. After reading that, the picture does make more sense and I think it does define you well, after the story portion in assignment 2. So I do think the picture says "you", I just didn't quite realize it right away.

Scarlet Renoux
1. What was my favorite assignment and why?

Although I did not get the highest score on my photo, I thought the “Take Me Home” assignment was my absolute favorite. I loved writing the background of Scarlet’s originality, and what her life in Tyria was like. I felt that if I put warmth and visuals into the history of Scarlet’s home, people could see her inner peace and feelings, not the most often seen coldness or cruelty of her. Writing where she originated and the conflicts Scarlet went through helped show how she became the person she is today. I was trying to display that even models have family and a place where they belong.

2. What was the hardest assignment for me and why?

Believe it or not, I thought the most difficult assignment for me was assignment number 7, “Battle of the Professions.” I was able to send in three photos total, but I thought it was quite difficult to work with another person, especially when you have to take several rounds of shots over and over again. Although, through this assignment I learned that in order to be a successful model and person, you must be able to work with others. It definitely exemplified the fact the patience truly is virtue. Angles, lighting, and cropping was another aspect that needed to be perfected for this assignment, as one must include their partner visible in the photo, while still making themselves be the center of attention. My patience was definitely boosted after that assignment.

3. Who do I believe was my fiercest competitor throughout this competition and why?

I simply and honestly know that Deus Toutatis was and still is my fiercest competition. Why? Week after week, Deus keeps consistent shots and rarely slacks behind, prepares well, and uses thoughtful tactics to approach assignments. Also, we are both Mesmers, which causes a line between us that must be broken by the better half. The third main reason I believe Deus is my biggest competition is: he is male. Not only that, he is the only male model in this competition, and to have come this far and do so well, he has good odds of doing well in his photos. Everyone has their own opinions on which sex is better; it especially differs when the situation comes to a mixed gender modeling competition.

4. Who do I consider to be my smallest threat and why?

To be quite frank; I have had no small threats. Everyone in this competition has played their part well, and I’m not just saying this to sound sweet or humble. I’m being serious. I have never looked at a single contestant in this competition and said to myself that they are a small threat.

5. What are my feelings on my competitor, Deus?

Deus is so sweet and kind, and as a model he puts everything into all he has. He never does things half baked; they’re always full on, and for him it seems to flow smoothly. I can talk to Deus outside of the heat of Guild Wars’ Most Wanted, and ask his opinions about things or simply hold a small conversation. I have absolutely no anger or fury toward Deus, as he has shown me the greatest of how a person should act in and out of a competition. He truly displays what it is to be a great model, and a great person overall.

What are my overall feelings on this competition and experience?
I don’t think I can write anything showing how I feel. I am extremely, oh so extremely grateful for how far I’ve come, and I know there are many others who are better than me. I try not to come off as the person that is arrogant or naïve and I don’t think I often do. Whenever I log in to guild wars guru and look at the GWMW forum, before I go to the last page to see results, I remind myself that this is all for fun and the love of taking photos and modeling. I feel honored to have been able to compete with all of the other models, and to still be competing with an amazing model, Deus Toutatis. Overall I know I have grown and put my best into what I submit, and I had so much fun every step of the way.

6. Why should I be Guild Wars’ Most Wanted?

I believe I should be Guild Wars’ Most Wanted not because I think I take good screenshots, or I write good stories, or I’m in the final two, but because a true model knows one thing: in order to be successful you must have fun, and you must love what you’re doing every second you do it. I had a blast in this competition and no matter what it comes out to in the end, I know I tried my hardest and loved every moment of it.

Questions:
Judge 1: Awesome. Your answers are all great, honest and perfect. I couldn't have hoped for any better. I am so happy that you have enjoyed your time in this contest as much as you have.
Judge 2: sniffle- Your response to the questions sound so honest and true, and show that you have had not one bitter moment in this competition (for which I am glad). The final question, for why you should be GWMW shines the most as a perfect conclusion to your very thoughtful responce.
Judge 3: I felt you answered your questions very well! Very nice things to say about your competitor as well. In a competition, it is very important to get along with them even behind the curtains. It was also good to read that you would always remind yourself that this contest was just for fun, and I'm glad you noticed how well you've improved and grown each week. And I absolutely love your reasoning for being Guild Wars' Most Wanted - you have to have fun. Yes it's important to take good screenshots, write good stories, etc. But you're accomplishing nothing if you don't make it fun in the end.

Picture:
Judge 1: I really love your photo. Overall, it works SO WELL with Scarlett's personality. I do, however, feel that the cropping should have been closer on both sides, but mostly the right side to help get rid of some of the negative space. Still, your photo is SO Scarlett and you did really well.
Judge 2: In your picture I can see Scarlet with an "I can do it" attitude, right off the bat. The whole theme of the imagine (perfect knight's tale) works wonders, and I can see the class in scarlet's style.
Judge 3: I love this picture! I see Scarlet right away and my first thought was she looks proud. And when I see her as being proud, I immediately remember your answers and previous assignments and think, she's proud because she's come so far since the first week and has always done her best. My eyes tend to draw toward the sun a little bit but not bad. I think you did great!

There you have it! Expect results (and the winner) to be announced very soon! The moment of truth is approaching!

CasterOfShame27 · Feb 24, 2008, 03:52 AM // 03:52

Ooh Deus!!! Your shot and answers are absolutely AMAZING. I can't wait for results! Best of luck, my good friend!

RedStar · Feb 24, 2008, 04:00 AM // 04:00

I like you picture a lot Scarlet (I love dark colors ^^).

Good luck to both of you guys ^^.

Tender Wolf · Feb 24, 2008, 04:06 AM // 04:06

Wow we have a tie on the public poll! So if anyone hasn't voted that wants to (with the exception of the judges), now is the time to do so! lol Otherwise I'll have to call in yet another guest judge.

RedStar · Feb 24, 2008, 04:18 AM // 04:18

Wow lol, lucky xD. Sorry I can't help you, I already voted.

Sali Su and co. · Feb 24, 2008, 09:59 AM // 09:59

Dues, that picture of yours is probably my favourite of all your pics. Its stunning! Love the armour colour!

The poll really reflects how close this competition is!

Toutatis · Feb 24, 2008, 11:24 AM // 11:24

Stunning work this week Scarlet! You've really outdone yourself yet again!

Best of luck to you! This is going to be another nailbiting wait for the results.

*holds Scarlet's hand while the judges do their thing*

CasterOfShame27 · Feb 24, 2008, 05:45 PM // 17:45

Ah I agree! I've got to go for now but hopefully they'll be posted when return!

*Holds Deus' hand also*

Tender Wolf · Feb 24, 2008, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Here is the moment we've all been waiting for! The results of assignment 9 will be posted here, as well as the winner of my very first contest! First I'd like to say that I enjoyed having everyone in my contest and it has been a fun experience. So much in fact that I'm definately going to host a cycle two (which is stated at the end of the video showing the winner). And don't forget, first prize is 50k in-game cash, second place is 10k in-game cash. I'll be handing that out ASAP!

Here we go!

Assignment #9 totals:
Deus Toutatis: 19+19+18=56
Scarlet Renoux: 18+18+19=55

As you can see, the scores are VERY close. And so is the public vote. Our winner won that by ONE POINT. I think this is a first in Guild Wars contest history, plus the winner was unanymous. Because of that, I had to change my method of posting the video to allow for suspense. So instead of Judge 1's Vote: (PIC HERE), I posted both finalists' pictures from all the assignments, then announced the winner. lol Okay, enough of my babbling. Here you have it!

Guild Wars' Most Wanted winner

Congrats to both of you and all my competitors! You all did great! Expect cycle 2 sometime this summer, maybe before!

Brandon1107 · Feb 24, 2008, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Grats winner

You really created some neat stuff throughout this entire contest. And for the runner up you became increasingly great. I loved your photos just as much. I still think your Color My World shot was the best shot in this entire contest. Really good job to both of you.

This contest was really great Tender. Gives me some motivation to set my contest up again and try again, though I need to rethink a lot of it, make it more appealing. Congratulations to both of you though for making it so far

Alyrrae Melarrian · Feb 24, 2008, 07:04 PM // 19:04

Youtube's so overloaded I can't even see who the winner is, but I'm glad it was that close.

They're both absolutely awesome.

So congratulations, winner. It was well earned.

Diddy bow · Feb 24, 2008, 07:07 PM // 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alyrrae Melarrian

Youtube's so overloaded I can't even see who the winner is, but I'm glad it was that close.

They're both absolutely awesome.

So congratulations, winner. It was well earned.

Me nither :/

Although both shots this wekk were really great, whoever the winner is its well deserved

.

Nemesis Xero · Feb 24, 2008, 07:17 PM // 19:17

Congrats to both winner and runner up

I enjoyed watching your submissions a lot, both of you had some amazing screenshots

Chicken of the Seas · Feb 24, 2008, 09:09 PM // 21:09

Congrats to you both, for even making it to the top 2! Judging was extremely difficult, especially nearing the end. There were two conflicting points in my head but in the end the decision was made. I'm proud of you both though, you both should try out for other GWGuru competitions!

Earth · Feb 24, 2008, 09:24 PM // 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tender Wolf

Guild Wars' Most Wanted winner

Congrats to both of you and all my competitors! You all did great! Expect cycle 2 sometime this summer, maybe before!

Oh god, what a horrible song. Anyway, congrats to the winner!

Btw, I think you should take some of Stalker's advice for the next contest.

RedStar · Feb 24, 2008, 09:28 PM // 21:28

Yay I was finally able to see the video. Grats winner and runner-up ^^.
*waits for cycle 2*.