Don’t We All Need a Little Enthusiastic Encouragement Sometimes?

(1 minute, 23 seconds)

The well-known musical film “The Greatest Showman,” released in 2017, was almost never produced. This film struggled to get “greenlit”—a term in the film industry meaning receiving permission to proceed with a project. After a whopping nine years in development and numerous rewrites and drafts, the film almost didn’t make it to production.

Then came a special workshop…and the purple hoodie guy.

The leading actors from the film all met in New York City for a workshop to read and sing through the script, aiming to convince 20th Century Fox executives that the film was worth producing. Remarkably, it was reported that the decision to give the film the green light hinged on the way one particular song was performed.

“This Is Me” was sung by Keala Settle, who would play Lettie Lutz, the Bearded Lady character in P.T. Barnum’s famous circus. It was a massive challenge for Keala to sing live in front of her peers and co-stars. The film’s director, Michael Gracey, said that Keala didn’t want to come out from behind her music stand.

That day, during the special workshop, thanks to the purple hoodie guy, Keala not only bravely stepped out from behind her music stand but delivered a powerful and unforgettable performance, securing this movie’s green light.

Don’t miss the moment from 1:28-1:44 in the YouTube video below: Keala, still behind her music stand, looks to her left at the purple hoodie guy, who apparently inspires her to step out from behind it. Following her courageous step into the metaphorical ring, watch as a wave of energy rises around her. Enthusiasm escalates as big gestures emerge, huge smiles spread, and hands reach overhead in celebration. There’s stand-up-on-the-chair cheering from the purple hoodie guy—infectious support that propels her forward, creating contagious momentum of joy and celebration that fills the entire room.

Whether or not you’re a fan of this movie or song, I hope you appreciate this visual illustration of encouraging one another enthusiastically! Watch the YouTube video of this historic workshop performance and “the purple hoodie guy”:

Friends, let’s joyfully do the work of encouraging one another! Put on your purple hoodies and, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…encouraging one another.”  Hebrews 10:24-25