Association support helps bring 'Howdywood' to Aggieland

For most students, watching a movie is a leisurely activity, a way to unwind after exams and classes and escape for a while. But for members of MSC Aggie Cinema, film is more than entertainment; it’s a creative outlet and a shared experience that brings their Aggie community together. 

Thanks in part to the generosity of The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University students can turn their passions from side interests into central parts of their lives, creating lasting community and leadership experiences via MSC Aggie Cinema. The student organization’s mission is to provide Aggie students with free access to blockbuster films and classic favorites. 

Over 60 years, Aggie Cinema has built its legacy on screening free movies on campus. 

“Aggie Cinema has always been about making films accessible to students,” MSC Aggie Cinema President Sam Brady ’26 said. “We like to go to the students; we don’t want to force them to come to us.” 

From Rudder Auditorium to the Commons, Aggie Cinema screenings are more than just showings; they are events. With games, prizes and interactive elements, the organization creates an atmosphere that turns a movie night into a community experience. 

In March, MSC Aggie Cinema hosted a two-day film streaming event titled “Howdywood.” The event would not have been possible without $2,000 in financial support allocated from Good Bull Fund, provided by The Association of Former Students. 

That support helped bring the “Howdywood” initiative to life, funding key marketing efforts, including printed T-shirts, campus signage and program booklets.

“It was the first time this exact team had ever put something on at that scale,” Brady said.  

The festival featured 18 films, including three feature-length projects and 15 short films, all created by current or former students. For many, it was their first opportunity to have their work shown on a big screen. 

“We really wanted to make it student-centric, to give Aggie filmmakers a platform,” Brady said.

One former student filmmaker, Mark Beale ’87, submitted a feature-length horror film, which included stop-motion effects and scenes shot in an abandoned church. A former professional filmmaker, Beale now works for the city of College Station while continuing to pursue independent film projects.  

For Brady, what started as a simple interest in movies turned into leadership opportunities, professional skills and connections across campus. 

“It really reframed my perspective,” Brady said. “Not just what the org could do for me, but what I could do for it.” 

Whether it’s hosting screenings, planning festivals or simply going to see movies together, members build connections that extend beyond the organization itself. 

“It’s not hard to get people to hang out,” Brady said. “Everyone genuinely wants to be there.” 

For more, visit @aggiecinema on Instagram or their website.

If you would like to support student organizations like MSC Aggie Cinema, make a gift here.