Just my $0.02 as a outsider: I didn't enter, I don't even work in audio. I'm just a film music lover and big Westworld fan who followed this competition with some interest. I don't doubt that makes my opinion worthless on here and that's ok because it is
. Much of what I was going to say has probably already been said more eloquently by others before me, so will try to keep it short.
To me, the powerful reaction this has invoked appears to have been caused by an avoidable miscommunication, through the setting of unreasonable expectations by Spitfire in the very beginning. Btw fair play to Spitfire for offering this unique opportunity to everyone, this competition been just great to watch unfold from the sidelines. I also really enjoyed the winning entry, congratulations to David and to the runners up on their success.
Anyway back to my point!!
It appears to me that Spitfire set standards which it seems now that they / the judges didn't especially care if participants actually upheld. I have no doubt that the response they received was also far more overwhelming they ever expected and that contributed to some degree. In effect, Spitfire allowed the conditions for an unlevel playing field to be created: skirting the rules was the true first unwritten and unspoken rule of this competition.
At the very end, after they have unwittingly engineered this outcome, the competition runners absolve themselves of even the smallest share of responsibility. They proceed to rub salt in the wound by patronizing unhappy entrants, advising them to differentiate themselves and to essentially "grow up" and find their voice if they ever want to be successful. I don't think this advice is intended to be hurtful at all, it's coming from a place of wisdom derived from their own trials and tribulations that led them to success. But there does seem to a complete lack of self awareness here about their own role in this situation and an innate preference to categorize at least a very large chunk of the 11,000 entrants as childish sour grapes and mob mentality. Does Spitfire not think that they could have done anything differently to create a more positive outcome for all involved? Is there not a better way to handle this situation even after the fact?
I don't claim to have the answers. Washing their hands of it and forgetting this ever happened seems to be what they are intent on doing so far. That probably works but that would be disappointing in my opinion. I would love to see more competitions in the future and more such opportunities for creatives where entrants are not discouraged by incidents such as this and the uninclusive atmosphere that they generate.