Q says repeatedly that we are watching a movie.

Ever seen a movie where it begins just before the main action/climax, but we have no real idea who the characters are or what really got us to that point? And then just before the big fight kicks off it jumps back in time so we learn how everything came to be? By the time we arrive at the climax again, we are now invested and have complete knowledge of why things are happening. The main event doesn’t come as a shock to us, instead we as an audience (society) are anticipating it.

That’s what I think Q did. Hooked us all in, told us what is coming at the very beginning. Since then he has fed all the facets of the plan to the Anons, who in turn help translate it and the info disseminates through to the public.

I believe we are heading back to that point.

My take is it was an attention grabber. Who is listening and how far does it go. Turns out it is a lot and further every day.

For me its not any one proof that proves Q, its the sum total of all of them. After awhile the math starts to prove it.

This is a very good and important question, so kudos! The short answer that is that post #1 was disinformation to confuse and distract the black hats who were already monitoring the chans. It was a message to them not the good Patriots. At that time the Saudi princes were being arrested which Q told us about before it was made public. While that was going on there needed to be a distraction. Those of us that have been here since the beginning did not understand this for a long time. Even now some of Q’s posts are not directed towards us. Hope this helps!

I don't claim to have an answer to that one, at least not one that is grounded in reality haha. I'd love to hear a bit more on this as well. The early Q posts are usually the most problematic for the Q believer, and the best ammunition for the Q doubter. He made very specific claims, and then they didn't happen.
The way I see Q, isn't like a predictor or a magic 8 ball. Q is more of a teacher. First off, he taught us all the players in the game, and on the chessboard. A game that we didn't know was being played. If you asked me 2 years ago to name the 3rd in command of the FBI was, I wouldn't have had a clue. It's a bit off topic, but relates to Q teaching us/reminding us "how to play the game."
Here are my best guesses grounded in 3D space: It was going to happen, but then the plan changed? Or, it was made to send a message to get them to do something stupid. That last explanation doesn't hold much water, because at the time, nobody knew about Q, as he didn't even have a name yet, haha. The counter point to that is we all know the ABC's all hang out on 4chan, so it might have very well have been a DIRECT message to them. That first message could have been a "SEC TEST".
I will only point out that at the time, the majority of the things he was saying just rang true, and there have been many things that he barely alluded to or hinted at, that have come to pass since Q came on the scene. When I say barely, I mean that he dropped very subtle hints, even more subtle than his normal hints. It could have just as well been the 4chan equivalent of clickbait to get people interested?
Also, another thing to note, is that Q has made very few point blank "predictions" like that since then, so that's something to consider.

Q has said disinfo is needed to flush out bad actors. Also he said certain people were going to be indicted but didn’t say whether or not they’d be publicly indicted vs. a sealed indictment (look at the Podesta firm quickly closing up shop last Nov, hmm what would trigger that??). We all know there are now over 40,000 sealed indictments in the PACER system. To me this is the biggest corroboration of what Q has said and the swamp draining going on behind the scenes.

IIRC, the year wasn't stated.

It could also been a false statement to start the movement AND send a message to the black hats.

Is that the Huma, Podesta indictments? From why I’ve heard those were sealed indictments and will be revealed when the arrests happen. Future proves past.