Full Circle with The Five Heartbeats Movie Night

I’ve loved The Five Heartbeats since I was a little girl. It’s not just a movie to me. It’s a piece of my childhood, my inspiration, and one of the reasons I fell in love with storytelling.

The Five Heartbeats: the film that shaped my love for storytelling and continues to inspire generations.

I still remember the first time I saw it. My dad had rented the VHS and brought it home. At that age, I was a full-on daddy’s girl. When he sat down to watch movies, I sat right next to him. Usually, I would drift off, playing with my Barbies or toys while his movies played in the background. But this one was different. Something about The Five Heartbeats had me hooked from the very first scene.

As a kid, I didn’t even realize it wasn’t based on a real singing group. To me (and every diehard fan) Dresser, Duck, JT, Choir Boy, and Eddie King Jr. were as real as The Temptations or The Four Tops. I knew every song, every ad-lib, every moment. Eventually, I got my own VHS copy, and I watched it daily. Yes, every single day.

What drew me in first was the music. But as I got older and stepped into my own dreams of filmmaking, my admiration shifted even more toward Robert Townsend. He wasn’t just Duck on screen. He was the writer, director, and visionary behind the film. Once I noticed his name, I started to see it everywhere: Hollywood Shuffle, Meteor Man, B.A.P.S., The Parenthood, and even his late-night talk show I loved as a kid. Robert Townsend shaped so much of my childhood without me even realizing it.

That’s why hosting The Five Heartbeats Movie Night at MsiCandi Movie Night this year meant so much to me. It wasn’t just another movie. It was an intentional choice that I saved until I was ready to do it justice. And I think we did. Our guests came with the right energy, ready to sing, dance, and vibe with us.

We honored the film in all the little details. A backyard barbecue setup was a nod to the closing scene where Choir Boy burns the ribs. We served themed cocktails, opened the night with a Soul Train line, and even had a lip-sync contest where guests performed songs from the era. We added interactive touches, like passing out Hershey’s Kisses during “A Heart Is a House of Love” and handing guests brushes and combs to sing into during Duck’s rehearsal scene. It wasn’t just a screening. It was an experience.

And then came the full-circle moment.

After posting clips from The Five Heartbeats Movie Night, one of my TikToks started picking up traffic. Normally, TikTok doesn’t give me much love, but this video of our crowd singing “We Haven’t Finished Yet” connected. People in the comments shared the same passion I’ve always had for this movie. So I carried that energy over to Instagram. And that’s when it happened.

Robert Townsend himself commented on my post.

When Robert Townsend himself showed love on my Five Heartbeats post. A full circle moment.

Yes, THE Robert Townsend. Duck. Meteor Man. Writer, director, actor, producer, visionary. The man whose work has inspired me since I was a kid. To say I lost my mind is an understatement. It felt like the universe stamped my purpose with a seal of approval. For me, it was like meeting Beyoncé. That’s how big this was.

This moment reminded me why I do what I do. The Five Heartbeats Movie Night was not just about watching a film. It was about honoring the movies that shaped us, building community, and keeping culture alive. It was about creating spaces where we laugh, dance, sing, and connect, the same way these films once connected us to our families, our childhoods, and our dreams.

So today, I just want to give Robert Townsend his flowers. Thank you for inspiring generations of young Black filmmakers, creatives, and dreamers to never give up, even when greatness isn’t recognized at first. The Five Heartbeats may not have dominated the box office on release, but in 2025, it’s a timeless classic that still stands strong.

And for me, it will always be more than a movie. It’s my heartbeat. 💖