By Reagan Hunter | Reporter
Nearly 15 years after “Sironia” first brought Waco to the big screen, the film returned to the city that helped shape it. Its story asks how people measure a meaningful life.
On Nov. 8, director Brandon Dickerson and lead actor-songwriter Wes Cunningham reunited at Jubilee Theatre for a special screening of “Sironia.” The fundraiser supported Mission Waco’s World Cup Café and Fair Trade Market as the organizations celebrate 20 years of serving the Waco community.
For Dickerson, “Sironia” began with a conversation among friends after he moved from Hollywood to Waco with his wife to care for her mother. In Waco, he reconnected with Cunningham and met Thomas Ward, a former Baylor theater professor. They began writing over breakfast at Café Cappuccino.
“We thought, what if we crafted this story about a fish out of water coming from LA and landing in small-town Texas and trying to find out what’s true and good and beautiful in that struggle,” Dickerson said.
The film follows Thomas Fisher, a musician whose Hollywood career hasn’t gone as planned. Seeking a fresh start, he and his wife, Molly, move to the small Texas town of “Sironia” to be closer to family. As he adjusts to his new life, Thomas is forced to rethink his ambitions and what truly matters.
The film is loosely based on Cunningham’s own experiences in the music industry. He said the idea started with songs he had already written, and over time grew into a feature film.
“For me, writing music is a cathartic experience, and I’m very honest with my songwriting,” Cunningham said. “It was really cool to take some of these songs that no one had ever heard and turn them into part of the narrative that helped further the story. Hearing them on screen was pretty awesome and a good feeling.”
The film’s message is about accepting life as it comes rather than constantly trying to control outcomes or seek validation from others.
“And just drop all the pretense, all this stuff about trying to make yourself look good or trying to force an outcome or trying to get validation from somewhere else,” Cunningham said.
Dickerson said the film encourages people to think about what they value most, especially when it’s easy to tie self-worth to career success and recognition.
“I think that the film, the themes, and certainly Wes and Thomas and I, all were interested in themes of where you put your value,” Dickerson said.
Waco was featured in the film, with scenes shot at Baylor and other local spots. Dickerson said people in Waco were excited to help, and he later watched former Waco residents cheer when places like Katie’s Frozen Custard and the Waco Suspension Bridge showed up on screen.
“It’s always fun to see your city on the big screen,” Dickerson said. “I know that place.”
Mission Waco brought “Sironia” back as a fundraiser because several scenes from the film were shot at World Cup Café, one of the movie’s main locations.
Kathy Wise, the organization’s associate executive director of operations and equipping, said the event marks 20 years of the World Cup Café and Fair Trade Market, celebrating the role it has played in the neighborhood over the years.
“One of the parts of the story of World Cup is that Wes Cunningham was the original manager and helped get the space ready and design the mural on the wall,” Wise said. “Having a business still be here after 20 years is a great thing.”
The fundraiser supported both the World Cup Café and Fair Trade Market. Wise said the market helps artisans turn their talents into opportunities, while the event itself is a chance for the community to come together and celebrate the people behind both organizations.
The screening was open to everyone on a pay-what-you-wish. Wise said the focus is on bringing people together, not the amount they donate.
“If somebody can’t afford a ticket, they’re welcome to come as well and be part of the community that day,” Wise said.
For Cunningham, bringing the film back to Waco feels especially meaningful because of his connection to the community that helped bring it to life. Looking back, he said the experience taught him the value of relationships and being part of something bigger than himself.
“I’m put on this earth to be in relationship with people, and to add to the goodness of this world,” Cunningham said.
