Put on a Show with Your Friends!

How to organize a local animation film screening

By Spencer Moreland

So, you and your super-talented friends have made a bunch of cool videos. Putting them on the internet might get you a bunch of likes and comments, but you're craving the big screen and the roar of laughter from a real, live audience. You can make this happen! But where do you start?

In this presentation and workshop, Spencer Moreland shares how a conversation and a handshake between him and fellow animator Dae Laliberte turned into Animation Show n Tell Ottawa (ASNTO), now entering its fifth year.

In this look back at ASNTO's origin story, Spencer explores how one conversation at a Halloween party planted the seeds for what would become a real community event. You'll learn what went into planning and launching ASNTO: figuring out what the event should be, finding a venue, getting people through the door, dividing up the work, and learning from each year. The goal isn't to give you a step-by-step formula, but to get you thinking about what might be possible in your own artistic community.

Event Rundown

Format: Presentation & Interactive Workshop (2 Hours)

Part 1: The Origin Story

It all began with two friends chatting at a Halloween party and wondering: what if we created a place for our friends and fellow artists to share their work? Instead of looking at other cities' animation events with envy, we thought: what if we created something of our own?

From there, we'll look at the important first steps of how we turned the idea into an event instead of just talking about it.

Part 2: Planning & Finding Your Audience

Who is the event for? What do you want people to experience? How do you give your event an identity that will connect with your audience?

We'll talk about choosing the name, figuring out what the event is really about, and finding the people who will actually come.

Part 3: Logistics & Making It Happen

We'll get into the nitty-gritty of running an event: finding a venue, working out the costs, figuring out doors and seating, communicating expectations, and dealing with the things that inevitably go wrong.

ASNTO has always been a group effort. We'll talk about how to divide up the work, accept help from friends, and avoid becoming the person who has to do everything.

Part 4: Growing & Evolving

What worked? What could have gone better? And how do you know when it's time to change something?

We'll look at how ASNTO changed from its first event to what it is now, including what worked, what didn't, and what we decided to change along the way. We'll talk about figuring out how much you can realistically take on each year, when to say no to new ideas, and how to make changes without losing what people liked about the event.

Part 5: Interactive Workshop!

In the final part, you'll start planning your own event. We'll brainstorm ideas, identify what you'd need to make them happen, and figure out what a realistic first version could look like.

By The End Of This Session, You Will:

• Turn a loose idea into a specific event with a name, audience, and purpose.
• Figure out the practical stuff: venues, costs, volunteers, schedules, and getting people through the door.
• Decide what you can realistically take on and how to build an event without burning yourself out.
• Identify key partners and collaborators that can help bring your vision to life and enhance it along the way.

What To Bring & Requirements

• No Experience Required: Open to anyone interested in creating a screening or showcase opportunity for animators, filmmakers, artists, or their wider creative community—whether that means renting a theatre or setting something up in your own backyard.
• Optional: Bring a notebook for brainstorming and jotting down ideas.

Event Details

• Dates: To be announced
• Format: 1 single session (2 hours)
• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
• Instructor: Spencer Moreland
• Level: All Levels
• Maximum Capacity: 12 attendees
• Minimum Enrolment: 6 attendees required