This past weekend thousands of fans around the country gathered at local cinemas to participate in Can’t Stop the Serenity (CSTS), an annual charity screening of Serenity, the 2005 feature-length space western written and directed by Joss Whedon. A limited number of locations also test screened Browncoats: Redemption, a fan film premiering September 3 in homes, online, and at select locations.
ABOVE: Can’t Stop the Serenity Participants Sell Out Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse Saturday June 26 and revel in their fandom with an audience judged costume contest.
If you are a member of the “‘verse,” you know the cult-like following the 14 episode Firefly series garnered when it was aired from the fall of 2002 through the summer of 2003. The fans begged for more Firefly, and their cries were answered with Serenity, a film written by the original director, featuring the complete, original cast and produced by Universal.
This was the fifth anniversary of Can’t Stop the Serenity. Approximately 50 locations around the world will have taken part in the events that span from early June through the end of September. Many of this past weekend’s events sold out.
Proceeds of the annual CSTS events benefit Equality Now, a charity founded in 1992 which focuses on civil, social, and economic inequities of women around the world, and, specifically, the tough issues of female genital mutilation, sex trafficking, and female ownership.
Whedon is a supporter of Equality Now and an advocate for individual action: “All I ask is this: Do something. Try something. Speaking out, showing up, writing a letter, a check, a strongly worded e-mail. Pick a cause – there are few unworthy ones.”
The fans are still excited about the genre, the story, charity, and the strength of Whedon’s characters. When I came upon three inspired individuals, after my work on Not Evil Just Wrong, who had formed a nonprofit and leveraged social media to create a follow-up to Serenity that would benefit charities supported by the original cast and crew and who were headed into post production, I also wanted to help. I’m currently on board as a volunteer giving a few hours per week to for business operations and media outreach.
The beauty of the film, in addition to it’s cinematic appeal, is that it wasn’t created by the Big Hollywood that put an end to the original TV series. It is a volunteer-created fan film shot and produced by professionals who were willing to give their time near Baltimore, Maryland. The three Big Damn Fans, Michael Dougherty, Steven Fisher, and Heather Fagan, saw an opportunity to create a viable product in the same universe. The proceeds of which will go to these five charities supported by the original cast and crew:
- Kids Need to Read – http://www.kidsneedtoread.org/
- The Dyslexia Foundation – http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org/
- The Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center – http://www.wootencenter.org/
- Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation – http://www.mc-lef.org/
- Equality Now – http://www.equalitynow.org/
Our goal is 32,000 DVD gift distributions over the next year, raising over $100,000 for each of the charities involved. As a Firefly/Serenity fan, it’s great to see a film produced under these circumstances and to be a part of it as a volunteer.
If you or your business has time (even if it’s just an hour per week online), a product, or service to allocate to Browncoats: Redemption or would like to post a badge to your site or blog please get in touch here.
The site is currently accepting donations and will be distributing tshirts and DVD’s upon request. All contributions are tax deductible. Check back at http://browncoatsmovie.com as we release clips and more ways to join the project.
Elizabeth A.Terrell is an (unpaid) volunteer with Browncoats: Redemption advising on outreach and operations for the film’s grassroots release September 3, 2010.
