Event Toolkit

Movie & Reflection Night: Masks on Screen

Theme & Purpose

Movie & Reflection Night: Masks on Screen brings young men together with caring adults to watch a film and explore the deeper lessons it carries. Movies are more than entertainment — they are stories of struggle, courage, and transformation that mirror our own lives. Just like characters on screen, we all have an outside self the world sees and an inside self filled with truths we usually don’t let others see.

This event begins with the #MillionMaskMovement, where participants reflect on their outside self (the strengths and roles they show) and their inside self (the doubts, pressures, or hopes they carry privately). With that reflection in mind, they watch the movie through a new lens — noticing how characters wear masks of their own. After the film, participants share what resonated, connect it to their own journeys, and discover that leadership, resilience, and brotherhood grow when we bring both sides of ourselves forward.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Media Literacy with Meaning – Look beyond the surface of stories to connect with deeper themes.

  2. Courage & Empathy – Relate characters’ outside roles and inside truths to their own lives.

  3. Leadership Lessons – Translate lessons from the film into real-world action and brotherhood.

Materials

  • Projector, screen, or TV with speakers

  • Chosen movie or documentary (sports, hero’s journey, social justice, or brotherhood theme)

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box or envelope for mask shuffle

  • Paper & pens for reflection notes

  • Snacks or pizza for a relaxed environment

Group Size

8–30 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

90–120 minutes (depending on film length).

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Movie & Reflection Night: Masks on Screen

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to Movie & Reflection Night. Tonight we’ll not just watch a movie — we’ll look at it through the lens of the #MillionMaskMovement. Every character has an outside self and an inside self, just like we do. Our goal is to see the connections between their story and ours.”

2. Create a Mask (10 minutes)

  • Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to write/draw:

    • Front (outside): the positive qualities they usually show the world (e.g., hardworking, funny, confident, athletic).

    • Back (inside): the “real stuff” they usually don’t let others see (e.g., fear of failure, stress, sadness, family pressure).

  • Collect masks

  • Reflection: “As we watch the movie, think about how the characters’ outside selves compare to their inside truths — and how that relates to your own mask.”

3. Watch the Film (45–90 minutes)

  1. Choose a film with themes of struggle, growth, or brotherhood.

  2. Encourage note-taking of moments that connect to the mask experience.

  3. Here are a few video suggestions for you:

    • “The Mask You Live In” Documentary

    • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (identity, belonging)

    • Remember the Titans (team, bias, leadership)

    • Coach Carter (standards, purpose)

    • Inside Out (emotional literacy—perfect for “front/back”)

4. Small-Group Reflection (10–15 minutes)

Prompts:

  • “Which character reminded you most of your mask?”

  • “What outside qualities did they show vs. what inside struggles did they carry?”

  • “Where did courage show up? Where did pressure show up?”

5. Whole-Group Dialogue (10–15 minutes

  • “What lesson from this story connects to your own life?”

  • “What support would have helped the character sooner? What support helps you?”

  • “How can brotherhood make a difference in moments like these?”

6. Closing & Positive Action (5–10 minutes)

Each participant writes one action they’ll take this week (e.g., ask for help, support a friend, practice a new skill).
Host Script:
“Movies reflect life. Just like the characters, we all carry both outside qualities and inside truths. When we honor both, we grow as leaders and brothers.”

7. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-Ons

  • Popcorn & Pizza Night: Create a casual environment to make sharing easier.

  • Double Feature: Show two shorter films and compare lessons.

  • Family or Mentor Invite: Include adults for an intergenerational reflection.

  • Creative Response: Have participants write a poem, rap, or sketch inspired by the film’s theme.

  • Photo Wall: Capture group moments and reflections to share with the GYMC community.

 

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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