It Was Never About the Movie | Reflections from a Community Movie Night

Reflections from hosting The Wiz Movie Night, building community through themed experiences, and discovering that Movie Crew is about much more than watching films.

This past weekend, I hosted another MsiCandi Movie Night experience, this time featuring The Wiz.

There were costumes. There was themed food. There were cocktails. There was a Yellow Brick Road.

There were crows, a Dorothy, a Tin Man, and yes, a Scarecrow.

The movie played under the stars as guests laughed, sang along, and shared an experience that many of us will not soon forget.

But days later, as the photos continue to roll in and my notifications keep filling up with tags, comments, and videos from guests, I realized something.

It was never really about the movie.

It was about the community.

"You Made Me a Believer"

One of the moments that stayed with me didn't happen on screen.

It happened during the event.

One of my crew members had never been a fan of The Wiz. She joined the team because she thought what I was building seemed interesting and wanted to help. She wasn't there because she loved the movie.

She was there because she believed in me.

Toward the end of the evening, she walked up to me and said something I'll never forget.

"You made me a believer."

She explained that when I talked about my vision, she didn't fully understand it.

She heard the ideas, but she couldn't quite see what I saw.

Then she watched it unfold.

The costumes. The food. The audience participation. The lights. The reactions. The laughter.

And suddenly she understood.

She told me I was a true creative because I could see something before it existed.

That moment hit me harder than she probably realized.

Because as creatives, we spend a lot of time trying to explain visions that only exist in our heads.

Sometimes people don't understand until they're standing in the middle of it.

The Moment That Meant More Than Anyone Knew

Every Movie Night, I try to challenge myself.

I try to add something that pushes me creatively or allows me to cross something off a bucket list.

This time, I became the Scarecrow.

What looked like a fun performance to the audience was actually something much deeper for me.

As I stood there performing, I found myself thinking about Wyoming High School Drama Club.

I thought about being a teenager who loved theater and storytelling.

I thought about the teacher who encouraged me to step on stage.

I thought about Miss Bolton.

There are people in our lives who see something in us before we see it in ourselves.

This performance felt like a thank you to every teacher, mentor, and supporter who planted seeds that would bloom years later.

The audience saw a Scarecrow.

I saw a full-circle moment.

More Than Entertainment

The movie played under the stars as the Movie Crew gathered for an unforgettable evening.

What has amazed me most over the past few days isn't what happened during the event.

It's what happened afterward.

Guests have been posting photos, creating reels, sharing stories, tagging friends, and asking when the next Movie Night will be.

People who have never attended are reaching out wanting to know how they can be part of it.

Some are even planning trips from other cities.

That tells me something important.

People aren't just looking for entertainment.

They're looking for connection.

They're looking for spaces where they can laugh, be creative, meet new people, and forget about the weight of everyday life for a few hours.

They're looking for community.

The Movie Crew

I often call everyone who attends "The Movie Crew."

What started as a cute name has become something much bigger.

It's a group of people who show up. Who support one another. Who wear costumes they never thought they'd wear. Who sing songs they haven't heard in years. Who become part of the story.

That's what makes MsiCandi Movie Night special.

Not the screen.

Not the projector.

Not even the movie itself.

It's the people.

What's Next?

Sometimes the role we play becomes a full-circle moment.

As I sit here reflecting on The Wiz Movie Night, I feel grateful.

Grateful for every guest. Grateful for every volunteer. Grateful for every person who trusted the vision.

And most of all, grateful for the reminder that sometimes the thing you're building becomes bigger than you imagined.

The Wiz may be over, but the journey continues.

And if this experience taught me anything, it's that we're not just watching movies anymore.

We're building a community.

And honestly?

That's the real magic.