Student Leadership

HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT 2023

The month of October is known to be the start of the spooky season, where the yearly festivities of Halloween approaches, and the renowned Halloween Movie Night – courtesy of the Student Council, takes place. Word about the annual Halloween Movie Night sparks excitement and intrigue among students, as everyone looks forward to a scary night spent alongside friends. 

The student-initiated Halloween Movie Night took place on the 27th of October, 2023. This year, new features were introduced to the movie night – like a Halloween-themed photobooth where groups of students could get their photo taken, before entering into the haunted halloween maze. This year's horror film of choice was Host, a 2020 British independent supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage. The MPH was transformed into a cozy atmosphere with the entire floor filled with mats, beanbags, and sofas, that faced towards the projector screen, as well as popcorn, beverages, and other snacks ready on standby that were easily accessible for students. 

At the opening-time of 6:00 PM for the event, crowds and lines of students started forming at the ticketing booths before check-in had even started. The busy and bustling atmosphere at the ticketing booths was exciting for both students getting ready to enter the movie night venue, as well as the students who were part of running the event – this included the ticketing team, the security team, the photobooth team, as well as the team of actors hiding within the maze. The downstairs area of the MPH was buzzing with anticipation for the start of an eventful night. Students lined up behind the four stations for ticketing, where students would show their ticket to check-in, allowing them entrance and access to the features of the movie night, as well as the ability to get food and beverages. Through a well-planned ticketing system, students were able to show their tickets that had been emailed to them, to then join the line for the photobooth, maze, and entry into the MPH. The security team directed groups of students and maintained crowd control, to ensure a smooth process of getting students into the MPH. 

Once at the front of the entry line, each group of students had a chance to take photos together with their friends at the impressive photobooth setup. Bright lights, a monitor system, halloween props, were all there and ready for students to use and take part in – the clear enjoyment of students capturing the memory with their friends showed a positive reaction to the photobooth. After a few photos, the group would be directed to enter the maze, being led by security up the stairs where the atmosphere shifted from a bright, cheerful, loud environment, to a dark and eerie entrance to the halloween maze. 

Within the maze, student-actors would be waiting for them, getting ready to scare them through the maze, which would lead students right into the MPH. Groups of students going into the maze were given a single flashlight, to help navigate the maze. Upon entering the maze, jumpscares came from left and right, igniting the start of panic and screams, making students venture further into the maze. Cobwebs and vines were strung up around the maze walls and above students’ heads, they had to duck through this dark environment, while having to keep an eye on their back as scare actors would appear at the most unexpected moments. There were twists and turns, as well as crawl spaces where students had to crawl through in order to progress forward – with even more scare actors waiting for them on the other side of the crawl spaces. The actors’ extravagant costumes and realistic makeup had been put together so skillfully, the entire maze was a success in producing realistic screams and fear from students. After students had fully gone through the maze and had been led right into the MPH, students could calm down and settle in for the movie. 

The photobooth and halloween maze tied together as the perfect combination of an entrance which welcomed students into the MPH. 

Students gathered with their friends, collecting their food and beverages, while waiting for the movie to begin and for all students to arrive and settle in as well. In contrast to the previous room which was the daunting maze, the atmosphere of the MPH was bright and comfortable. Once all students had been checked in and all students had had their turn at the photobooth, the lights dimmed as the movie Host was ready to begin. 

The Year 11 executive team worked so effectively to bring this event together and make it a success, as well as an enjoyable night for everyone. While the preparation process leading up to the 6:00 PM deadline was rigorous, everyone pulled through and worked to do their part, getting the job done so efficiently. Every single person utilized their best skills to complete a task for the movie night which was suitable for them. Whether it be having a talent in makeup, therefore becoming the designated makeup artist for the student maze actors, or skill with cameras, therefore becoming the cameraman at the photobooth – everyone on the set up crew of this event did something which was most enjoyable to them. This applied to all the teams, ranging from the talented team of maze actors, the solid security team, the ticketing team, the food & beverage team, the photobooth team, as well as all who organized and put together every aspect of the movie night. A key moment of teamwork during the preparation process was every person standing at different points on the stairs to pass mats continuously onto the next person, overall working together to bring mats and dividers up the stairs all as a group. 

The event as a whole was a success, truly a thrilling night full of scares, laughter, and memories, which was enjoyable for all to take part in. 

The success of the event is not just in its scares, but in the memories created. It is a night where the school community comes together to enjoy Halloween among friends. As the credits of the movie played and students started leaving the MPH, the echoes of laughter and conversations lingered in the air. Until next year, when the MPH transforms to a movie-watching experience, and the horror maze and festivities for the night returns, Halloween Movie Night’s legacy continues on