This blog details my journey in planning, sourcing, designing, and setting up the display table for our short film—a process filled with creativity, improvisation, and many striped patterns.

Starting from Scratch: Brainstorming the Vision

Our film, Find Your Joy, follows a young artist named Brent who rediscovers inspiration through the magic of a circus. The theme—art, joy, and circus aesthetics—served as the core of my display plan.

Back in March, we were told about the end-of-year showcase. I had no idea what I was doing. I previously made a CV and A Showreel, but the grading showed me that I need to work on my showreel and that my CV gived off Jinx vibes.

Last years cv and showreel:
Showreel Resource from last year

Cv Resource from last year

I don’t know how Louise and I had to make our artbook. But I did learn how to set up my table. I had previously helped set up tables with family for weddings, I’ve done a few tables for societies I’ve been in over the years, and I even did a table for fundraising.

I started the first class by gathering photos and references on how we would style our table. I knew our table would be circus themed, but there were many ways to plan a table. I have gathered photos from craft fairs, society tables, fundraisers, and even tables I found online from a shop I know that did craft tables.

I showed Louise the photos as I took down lecture notes on how to help others during the craft fair.

Weeks after that class ended, I focused on fixing my CV from the notes I was given last year, this time making it less colorful for easier clarification.

Louise and I agreed on a list of table stuff: a striped cloth, another cloth that replicated curtains, and fake sunflowers for the table. The poster designs were a struggle. Louise drew her characters after Studio Ghibli movies, while I focused on finding good thumbnails from media to use as a good reference.

We started a planning thread on Discord, discussing banner dimensions, tablecloth options, and potential handouts. As the exhibition date approached and progress on my teammate’s end slowed, I recognized the need to act swiftly and make executive decisions.

Some early ideas discussed in the chat included:
• Using circus-themed colors and elements
• Incorporating artificial sunflowers to tie into the film’s visual motifs
• Creating chibi keychains based on the characters
• Matching the tablecloth to the circus theme with bold red and white stripes

Ultimately, I decided on a striped plastic tablecloth inspired by festive carnival setups. This choice was practical, eye-catching, and aligned with the joyful tone of our animation.

Gathering the Pieces: Materials and Merch

I originally wanted to bring table mats, banners, a few baskets, and hand out bags for my table and for people to use because I thought it would be helpful for any students who weren’t getting the university to cover their table cost.
However, I couldn’t do this because I didn’t have the money then, so this idea was not financially feasible. I also wanted to help people clean up after the events if possible, but I will see how that goes. Another thought I had was to organize a fun-raising event because I had many contacts and thought it would be an excellent idea. I discussed this idea with Louise, but she wasn’t very keen on it, so I didn’t take it any further.

With a clear direction, I began shopping for the essentials:
• A red and white striped tablecloth
• A small bouquet of artificial sunflowers
• A tripod to support the open physical artbook
• a bunting to add extra flair to the table
I shared my Amazon cart with the group, hoping for feedback, but when none came, I moved forward with my selections. I even included a spare red tablecloth in case we needed an extra layer or a swap at the event. I also considered adding a stage lamp for dramatic lighting, though we ultimately didn’t use it due to setup limitations.

Key Visuals: The Banner/Poster

One of the table’s most impactful aspects was the vertical banner featuring the film’s poster, which I had previously thought of and passed on to Louise to design. We both loved the concept of the poster and collaborated on it. I contributed the layout idea, and Louise completed the illustration.
I ensured that our group sent over our banner to be printed.

Hopefully, its high resolution and silhouette work help make it the striking centerpiece of the display. It would be positioned proudly behind the monitors, drawing attention to the booth and effectively communicating the vibe of our short film.

Business card and showreel.

The last two weeks of class I worked on my showreel, I figure to show the before and after compositing to show on showreel. I decided to show however undone scenes as well as two composited scenes showing day and night.

Sarah showed me some business card and I found one showing a guy posing. I never made a business card but went with that idea for mine for my business. I used colours from my cv, and I wanted to add a animal to add character to my card. My original thought was a raven or a possum or a cute small rat but I know people don’t like the same animals I like led alone anything that relates to plage, tarrots or Edgar Allen Poe so I decided to add a derpy wee Pidgeon. I had problems with adding a qr code for my website to my business card so I’m sure to lose marks.

https://www.enchantedmotionstudio.com/

Solo Assembly: The Day of Setup
On the day of the exhibition, I managed the entire setup myself. The problem was that our group had a small falling out, so I thought I would set up the table myself and then leave to work on my submission; that way, I wouldn’t be a hassle to Louise or the lectures. I unrolled the spare tablecloth around the table, then placed the circus theme tablecloth on the table. I tend to arrange the sunflowers and art stand on the table, so that the table monitors have enough space when they arrive.

Despite the effort, it was incredibly satisfying to see everything come together. The table looked inviting, coherent with the film’s tone, and true to my vision.

Obstacles & Workarounds: Managing Without Help
One of the main challenges I faced was the lack of collaborative momentum throughout the stand and my project. My teammate was initially enthusiastic in discussions but absent during the physical setup. The Discord chat reflected this gap, as I continued to post updates, mockups, and questions, only to receive limited responses or none at all.

As a result, I had to:
• Make all aesthetic and logistical decisions
• Handle all purchases out of pocket initially
• Design and finalize the title work for our posters

Though I encountered moments of doubt and frustration, I remained focused on the goal: to represent Find Your Joy with pride.
Reflection: What I Learned from Going Solo
Despite the stress, managing the setup alone allowed me complete creative control. I learned to manage a mini-production from concept to completion, to problem-solve in real time with limited resources, and to work under pressure while balancing animation and artbook deadlines

Additionally, I also had to learn that my teammate would not want to share teamwork, so she ultimately sent a different poster to be printed and took me off her folder with her animations and artbook. She said she wanted to separate her artbook from me, so I was back to stage one. However, with all the presentations I had to make for Louise on our project, I found a solution. I decided to use the previous presentations I made to create a PowerPoint artbook (separate from Louise’s) that chronicled the technical side of the production, including environmental art, unused scenes, and my design contributions. I’m not the best writer, but I hoped that I could fill in the blanks for the rest of my artbook with enough resources and evidence of our progress.

I also decided to document the entire process from my planning in Discord to the final display when the group fell apart.

Final Thoughts: A Table Full of Joy

Creating a display table for a short film involves more than aesthetics; it is about storytelling, branding, and passion. As we approached the exhibition for our final-year project, Find Your Joy, I was responsible for independently setting up the display table since my teammate was unavailable to contribute. Rather than letting the display suffer, I embraced the challenge of bringing our vision to life.

Find Your Joy was about staying positive and passionate, even when faced with challenges. Ironically, setting up this table mirrored that journey. I encountered setbacks and silence, but persevered because the project meant so much to me. I wanted our film to shine and knew the display was essential.