Serenity Now/Equality Now

Serenity Now/Equality Now
Originally uploaded by azLee.

While at the Buffy Sing-A-Long on Saturday, Jeff the Emcee mentioned a Joss Whedon-related coming attraction for the Loft slated for this June.

Apparently "The Browncoats", a group of "Firefly" fans, have been involved somehow in a nation-wide charity fundraiser for Equality Now (a woman's rights advocacy organization at www.EqualityNow.org ) that'll be held (as mentioned) this June.23 (Whedon's birthday!) Here is the press release concerning it:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Devin Pike
www.CantStopTheSerenity.com
mailto:devin@cantstoptheserenity.com

GLOBAL SCI-FI CHARITY EVENT RETURNS IN JUNE 2007
Screenings of 'Serenity' Benefit Women's Rights Advocacy Group

Dallas, TX (PRWeb) January 12, 2007 -- Science fiction fans are notorious for their passion for their favorite film or television series, launching massive letter writing campaigns to save their show, or attending conventions dressed as their favorite character. Fans of 'Serenity' and "Firefly" are working to convert that passion into positive global change with a series of charity events.

In 2006, organizers answered the call to hold "Can't Stop The Serenity" events in 47 cities around the world, raising over $65,000 for the women's rights advocacy group Equality Now by holding screenings of the Joss Whedon film 'Serenity.' The goal for 2007 is to hold events in over fifty (50) cities across the globe on or around Saturday, June 23, raising over $100,000 in donations.

As of January 11, organizers in forty cities in seven countries have signed onto hold a benefit screening. Details on planning an event can be found at www.CantStopTheSerenity.com, as well as a current list of participants.

"The slogan 'done the impossible' means a lot to fans of "Firefly" and 'Serenity.' In 2006, we did the impossible. In 2007, we're topping it," global organizer Devin Pike said.

"In most cases, when you see a fan-based event centering on a particular show, it's almost out of a sense of self-gratification. 'We want more of our show,' or 'we want more stories from this crew of actors and writers.' With the Can't Stop The Serenity events, it's a bit different. People across the planet are gathering resources to benefit a great charitable organization, by screening a film they know has a fervent fanbase."

In the first year of Can't Stop The Serenity events, the vast majority of organizers were learning how to put together a benefit from scratch. Pike says the experience was invaluable, and the 2007 screenings will be better all around.

"There will be several new organizers on board this year, and the questions we had to answer for ourselves will be the same ones they'll ask. The level of collaboration will be fantastic."

Equality Now, the charity benefiting from the screenings, works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Some of the issues Equality Now addresses are female genital mutilation (FGM), women's rights in Third World countries, and suffrage in the Middle East.

Amanda Sullivan, Women's Action Network Director of Equality Now, is enthusiastic about the response the "Can't Stop The Serenity" movement has generated. "All of us at Equality Now continue to be amazed by and grateful for the Browncoats' and Serenity fans' generous and committed support for our work. Their energy and enthusiasm is inspiring and these screenings are coming at a critical time when we are especially in need of funds! We thank each and every one of them."

"These events are unlike anything else in fandom," Pike said. "You don't see people putting on screenings of their favorite movie on a whim in one city, let alone fifty cities across the world. The organizers of Can't Stop The Serenity are a really special group of people, and they're creating something truly unique."

The June 23 date was chosen for two reasons: first, it's writer / director Joss Whedon's birthday; second, it marks the anniversary of a series of sneak previews Universal Pictures held to raise interest in 'Serenity' in the "Firefly" fan base, known as "Browncoats."

About 'Firefly' and 'Serenity' (from Wikipedia.org)

Firefly is a science fiction television series that premiered in the United States and Canada in 2002. The series was developed by Joss Whedon, who also created the cult favorite "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The series concept merged the classic Western genre with a science fiction backdrop, applying naturalistic science fiction concepts such as showcasing flawed characters in humble circumstances.

The series was broadcast on the FOX network and was cancelled after only eleven episodes. However, strong sales of the DVD collection of all fourteen episodes allowed Whedon to convince Universal Studios to produce a film based on the series, titled 'Serenity' after the crew's spacecraft of the same name.

For More Information

Global Event Web Site: www.CantStopTheSerenity.com
Equality Now: www.EqualityNow.org