Joss On Equality Now
There are two ways to fight a battle like ours. One is to whisper in the ear of the masses, try subtlely and gradually to change the gender expectations and mythic structures of our culture. That's me. The other is to step up and confront the thousands of atrocities that are taking place around the world on an immediate, one-by-one basis. That's a great deal harder, and that's Equality Now. It's not about politics; it's about basic human decency.
- Joss Whedon
Sponsors
If you are a business -- local or otherwise -- interested in event sponsorship opportunities for next year's Portland screenings (financial contributions to defray costs, raffle or auction items, donation of services such as printing, etc.), please let us know and we will have someone get in touch. If your business has a set budget cycle for such things, please include that information.
Remember: As the founding city of the worldwide charity screenings movement, the Portland of Oregon is watched by eyes around the world.
Joss On 2006
But the second "Thank You" is obviously for the screenings, and everyone's involvement. ... What an achievement. I wish I could have been at one. ... I got an E-mail from Jessica Neuwirth [of Equality Now], who was of course thrilled and grateful for the whole thing. It's by your efforts that my movie has become inexorably linked to such a vital, under-recognized cause, and so y'all should be frantically patting yourselves on the backs. Thank you. It matters. Plus, fun!
- Joss Whedon
Equality Now On 2006
During the last week of June 2006, Joss Whedon's fans, the Browncoats, organized 47 screenings of his film Serenity in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The screenings were held to benefit Equality Now and celebrate Joss' birthday. Earnings totaling over $60,000 have been reported. Equality Now is extremely grateful for the support of the Browncoats and inspired by the tremendous energy and commitment they have put into their efforts to support our work to end human rights abuses against women and girls around the world.
- Equality Now
Thanks From...
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 and Happy Birthday to Joss!"
- Amanda Sullivan, Equality Now
More Info
Serenity
A passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship.
Equality Now
Equality Now was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Working with national human rights organizations and individual activists, Equality Now documents violence and discrimination against women and mobilizes international action to support their efforts to stop these human rights abuses.
Women's Film Initiative
A project of Film Action Oregon, the Women's Film Initiative was established in recognition that few role models exist for women interested in pursuing filmmaking behind the camera. The Women’s Film Initiative is comprised of four programs: INSPIRE: A Program for Young Women Filmmakers; The Faerie Godmother Film Scholarships; The Women’s Vision Film Grants; and The Portland Women's Film Festival.
PDX Browncoats
Portland's own group of Firefly and Serenity fans, which began meeting regularly during the run-up to the film's release in 2005. They conceived the original (and then-unprecedented) worldwide charity screening effort held in 2006.
Can't Stop The Serenity
This event is part of an unprecedented worldwide effort (conceived in 2006 right here in Portland) involving fan-organized charity screenings in nearly fifty cities in Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States, centered around the three-day period of June 22 through June 24.
Site maintained by The One True b!X. Best when viewed with the Trajan font (or the comparable Trajax font), installed. Served by the woman-owned Acorn Host.
Local Total:
$13,000
Global As Of 22 August:
$121,806.05 (est)
Women's Film Initiative:
Approx. $1,000
Latest Update
22 August 2007: As first announced at Firefly at the Mission on 21 August 2007, PDX Browncoats raised more than $13,000 for Equality Now at this year's Cant Stop The Serenity charity screenings (and over $1,000 for the Women's Film Initiative). That's a combined total that nearly doubles last year's take of $7,200.
To keep updated, subscribe via feed or via email, whichever is most convenient for you.
Information
Portland's charity screenings will be held on Friday, 22 June (an evening show), and Saturday, 23 June (a matinee), at the historic Hollywood Theatre. While primarily a benefit for Equality Now, 10% of ticket proceeds will go to support the Women's Film Initiative.
Tickets are $13 in advance and $18 at the door on the day of show. Friday, 22 June, doors open for pre-screening activities at 7:00 PM and programming begins at 8:00 PM. Saturday, 23 June (Joss' birthday), doors open for pre-screening activities at 1:00 PM and programming begins at 2:00 PM.
Still haven't seen Serenity? Then sit back and watch the first nine minutes via iFilm.
Watch this space, or sign up for updates via feed or via email, to make sure you always have the latest information. All official general-audience communications are guaranteed to be made via this site and its subscription options.
Last year at a sold out 500-seat event on Joss Whedon's birthday (and despite the infamous botched introduction), we raised over $7,200 for Equality Now, marking Portland's take as more than 10% of the worldwide total, and more than any other participating city. A fitting result for the city which founded the charity screenings effort. In 2006, we did the impossible. This year, with two screenings at the historic Hollywood Theatre, we top it.
Press
Press for 2007:
• 2007 Press Release (pdf)
• Still Wild For Whedon
• Joss Whedon Takes Over PDX
• "Serenity" Charity Screening Details
• KUFO, 25 May 2007 (mp3)
• Serenity Charity Screenings Set for June
• It's Gonna Be A Browncoat Summer
Press for 2006:
• 2006 Press Release
• Can't Stop the Signal... From Doing Good
• How Portland Found Serenity
• KBOO, 15 June (mp3)
• Fans of Sci-Fi 'Serenity' Follow Their Bliss
• Kickass Movie. Great Cause
Tickets & Donations
FRIDAY, 22 JUNE
• Guest: Scott Allie (Joss' editor at Dark Horse)
• Doors open for pre-screening activities at 7:00 PM
• Programming begins at 8:00 PM
• $13 in advance, $18 at the door
SATURDAY, 23 JUNE (Joss' birthday!)
• Doors open for pre-screening activities at 1:00 PM
• Programming begins at 2:00 PM
• $13 in advance, $18 at the door
Shindig
Immediately following our Saturday screening, we will be having something of an after-party at Moon & Sixpence, just a couple of blocks away from the Hollywood Theatre. This is something of an unofficial-official event. By which we mean that this isn't a private party, and the location is not reserved for us, but we've set the shindig for a typical "lull" in their Saturday schedule and they're set and ready for us to be there.
And while we don't have the space reserved, Moon & Sixpence has graciously agreed to donate 5% of the evening's food sales to Equality Now. So when the movie's done, and you've collected whatever raffle items you've won (because you are going to enter the raffle, right?) head on over for some delicious British pub fare and continue helping the cause.
Festivities will begin at 5:00 PM on 23 June. Moon & Sixpence is located at 2014 NE 42nd (one block up Sandy from the Hollywood Theatre and two blocks north on 42nd). Minors are permitted, but restricted to the spacious outdoor patio (where, weather permitting, most of us will be anyway), until 9:00 PM.
Special Guests
We're pleased to announce that Scott Allie -- Joss Whedon's editor at Dark Horse Comics -- will be our guest for the Friday night screening. Among other things, Allie's credits include Serenity: Those Left Behind and the forthcoming Serenity: Better Days, and he edits the current Buffy: Season 8 series. There will be a talk with the audience prior to the movie, and he will be around during the post-movie raffle for those who want to continue the conversation a little less formally. Our thanks to Allie for wanting to help make this year's events in the Portland of Oregon, birthplace of the charity screenings movement, even better than last year.
Raffle, Etc.
We will be conducting raffles at both of our screenings. Need some extra enticement to attend? See below for a partial list of this year's raffle prizes. Raffle tickets will require cashy money, so make sure you've hit an ATM!
• Voucher for Serenity Collector's Edition DVD
• Serenity: Those Left Behind trade paperback
• Serenity: Those Left Behind mini-poster
• Autographed copy of Finding Serenity
• Voucher for Serenity Found
• Buffy: Season 8 #1 with variant cover
• Alliance Currency Money Pack (fan club edition)
• Done the Impossible DVD
• And more!
In addition, we will have two authentic Serenity props -- Bank Heist Money Display and Reaver Throwing Razor Weapon -- although it's not yet been determined whether these will go into the general raffle, a special raffle, or an auction.
Contact
Sponsorship:
• sponsors@pdxbrowncoats.com
Media Inquiries:
• media@pdxbrowncoats.com
Note to media: Promotional images from the film's original release are available upon request.
Other Questions:
• screening@pdxbrowncoats.com
Note: If you're looking to discuss this year's global effort, contact Devin Pike, 2007's coordinator. If you're looking to discuss the origins of the global effort which started in 2006, contact b!X right here in the Portland of Oregon, founding city of Can't Stop The Serenity.
Promote
Have you downloaded any of this material and gotten it out into public view for us? If so let us know so we can keep track. That last part? Although appreciated, not as required as just helping get the word out!
Handbills
• 8.5x11 4-Up Two-Sided Color (pdf)
• 8.5x11 4-Up Two-Sided B&W (pdf)
• 8.5x11 4-Up Front Color (pdf)
• 8.5x11 4-Up Front B&W (pdf)
• 8.5x11 4-Up Back (pdf)
Flyers
• 8.5x11 Color (pdf)
• 8.5x11 B&W (pdf)
Posters
• 11x17 Color (pdf)
• 11x17 B&W (pdf)
Web
• 468x60 Animated Banner Ad (gif)
• 150x200 Blog Ad 1 (gif)
• 150x200 Blog Ad 2 (jpg)
• 150x200 Blog Ad 3 (jpg)
Spend a lot of time with your laptop out in public? Is your computer at work in a high-traffic and visible location? Consider downloading our header graphic (jpg) or our Hollywood Theatre calendar ad (jpg) and using it as your wallpaper or desktop.
Critics On Serenity
"Two thumbs up!"
- Ebert & Roeper
"Rowdy, smart, funny and gripping."
- The Oregonian
"Witty [and] arresting ... Impressive."
- The Portland Mercury
"A damn good movie."
- Willamette Week
"Brash, funny, action-packed."
- Chicago Tribune
"Clever and rousing."
- Village Voice
"Flies with sass and spirit."
- NY Newsday
"Solidly hits the mark."
- Minneapolis Star Tribune
