Furry Animation Screening

I do not know how common a practice screening cartoons is at other conventions is; but in Southern California (meaning at ConFURence, and later at CaliFUR) it was a staple part of the program. There was, essentially, a 24-hour (or nearly so) program all through the con, in one room, screening everything from favorite feature-length Disney classics, to Disney, Warner Bros and other "short subjects", as well as episodes of "Disney Afternoon" (TAILSPIN, RESCUE RANGERS, etc.) or favorite episodes of ANIMANIACS, TINY_TOONS ADVENTURES, or ROAD ROVERS. You could catch european cartoons and movies, and live-action films such as BABE and WARRIORS OF VIRTUE, and any one of a dozen really oddball or exotic things that no one had ever seen anywhere else, ever before. The first time I ever saw PBS' BETWEEN THE LIONS was at one of these cons - as well as the animated REDWALL series - and, at least once each con, there was a special Midnight Screening of...(dare I invoke it?)...MEET THE FEEBLES.

...But we were fortunate in having resources which other conventions may lack - namely, prominent founding members of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organisation, who had rather extensive collections of VHS tapes and DVDS and LaserDiscs, some commercially made, some carefully dubbed from film or off-the-air, and the means to present this programming, namely the right sort of Television Projector. These individuals included Rod O'Reilly (sp?) and Thom Scheafer, with contributions from David Bliss and even Fred Patten. And quite often, the screening room was manned during that entire time by one or another of these individuals, shuttling cartridges or DVDs in and out on schedule, and keeping the room and chairs neat, clean and orderly.

To duplicate this at AnthroCon would require, first, some staff to monitor the room, and set-up and operate the equipment. It would require convention space, OR a large suite, and several chairs for viewers to sit in. It would have to be readily accessible at almost all hours, not unlike a hospitality suite. It would require either a TV Projector and screen, or a monster-size TV, with both VHS and DVD players. Most of all, it would require the actual programming material...much of which is probably not readily available at BLOCKBUSTER.

At conventions with attendance numbers under a thousand, a screening room which could accommodate 48 people for the most popular stuff would suffice; most of the time, there would seldom be as many as a dozen folks watching. But it is a great alternative for some people, to massing in the lobby after the Dealer's Den shuts down. For something the size of AnthroCon, I don't know how much bigger you would plan for, room-and-chair-wise. If this were held in a suite (without any other inducements, such as refreshments), figure a stream of people wandering in and out, with committed viewers numbering upwards of 2 dozen, average. Mind you, not necessarily the SAME 2 dozen, people will come in and see different things, either old favorites, or something new.

This is quite different from more conventional "Panel Programming". It would require a special dedication and effort to pull off. And while I have met one or two AnthroCon attendees who are C/FO members, I don't know if there is a collection - or group of collections - of animation or other "Furry Movie" stuff, readily available or transportable to Pittsburgh, even if you had all the other requisites.

On the other paw - it DOES offer a "moderating" convention experience, for those who aren't trying to locate friends of their own clique, or aren't interested in the dances, or buying and selling "stuff". It offers a chance to be entertained, and to let a story carry you away. I remember at CF9, watching BALTO one night. In walked a fursuiter (and artist) known as Loopy, AKA Andrew Pidcock. He was wearing a white wolf fursuit at the time; he had never seen BALTO, but was entranced enough to stay and remove his fursuit head, and watch the whole thing - and was moved to tears in the scene where Balto encounters the White Wolf, and finds the strength to Be What He Is.

It's nice that something can have that sort of impact.

We used to run a video room in years past. The gentleman in charge brought along some wonderful stuff, but despite everything it was always very sparsely attended, so we eventually dropped it from our programming.