2004 Boston Anime Festival - Interview
The 2004 Boston Anime Festival is on April 9-11, 2004. Here is an interview with the festival Chairman, Adam Ferraro. Learn just what goes into a festival of this size!
BellaOnline : Given the overwhelming response from the very first anime festival in 2003, how are you changing 2004's festival to cope with that volume?
Adam : We've moved the dealer hall and art show across the street into an exhibition hall to free up more space, turned the old exhibit hall into a panel room, and have implemented a computerized badge system to process the attendees faster. and of course, implemented an attendance cap.
BellaOnline : Were festival organizers surprised that the entire anime festival was pre-sold-out by February, when it doesn't take place until mid-April?
Adam : Not really. We had a pretty good idea that would happen. That is why we announced the membership cap right from the begining and constantly urged everyone to pre-register.
BellaOnline : How many staff and volunteers are involved in making the 2004 anime festival work?
Adam : 160 or so. Up from around 90 last year.
BellaOnline : What is the total registration numbers for the 2004 anime festival?
Adam : Attendance was capped at 3250. Final attendance (including staff and guests and dealers and press etc) will be announced after the convention. While we have a pretty accurate count about everything listed above, the big unknown is the one day castle passes that we are selling. Those also factor into overall attendance, but since we have no way to project how many we might sell, we have to wait until the convention is over before having final figures.
BellaOnline : Why do you think anime has become so popular in the last number of years?
Adam : I think Anime has become so popular because it is something different. A lot of the stuff available these days to the general public is just bad. When compared to the influx of reality tv, stale sitcoms and general Hollywood drek, anime is like a breath of freah air. It's creative, thought provoking and highly accessible.
BellaOnline : What do you think the most popular attraction will be at the festival?
Adam : That would have to be the masquerade/cosplay contest.
BellaOnline : With the enormous popularity of this festival, would you consider to going twice a year, or moving to a venue that will hold more people?
Adam : Only if I wanted to kill off the staff. ^_^
What we will be doing is moving to a larger venue, the Hynes convention center, for 2005. That should alleviate the crowding and space issues that have been a problem for the past couple of years.
BellaOnline : Are most people coming to the festival from New England, or are there people travelling a distance to attend?
Adam : Primarily we are drawing from New England, however people as far as California are coming.
BellaOnline : What are your personal favorites in anime?
Adam : My favorites would have to be Maison Ikkoku as my top series of all time, and more recently, Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO).
BellaOnline : Thank you, Adam, for taking the time to talk with us!
Interview with Boston Anime Festival Programming Director
Boston Anime Website
Anime Boston 2004 Review and Photos
Anime Reviews Main Page
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