Currently, any Browncoat group that does a CSTS event, whether a full screening or an Affiliate event, donates at least 75% to Equality Now and up to 25% to other registered charities. A few events have expressed a desire to donate more than 25% to other charities. The CSTS Steering Committee and the 2013 Global team recognize that this is a big decision and everyone should be allowed to have their say.
There will be a discussion about this on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, in the CSTS Forums and on the website until the end of Sept at which time there will be a poll for all to vote.
Emotions can run high when it is something important to you, but let’s make sure the conversation stays civil.… Read more…
Minneapolis is starting off the weekend on Thursday with a big event. Showing both Dr. Horrible and Serenity in one night! Starting at 8:30, this is perfect for anyone who has to work the next day. 😉
They continue the fun with both Friday and Saturday nights seeing the doors open at 11:00 p.m. with Serenity being shown at 11:30. There are raffles all three nights with great prizes to be had. The Riverview is a restored 1950’s Art Deco theater and a treat just in itself.
Whedonfest is underway for another year, from Aug. 9-11th. A joint CSTS event with Browncoats from the Nashville, TN/Scotsville, KY area, this is a weekend of all things Whedony. Come for the day or the weekend. There are panels, games, an auction, a shindig with special guest Mikey Mason, Dr.… Read more…
The Seattle Browncoats aren’t content with doing a screening. They are doing two on the same day.
On Saturday July 13, the 2:00 matinee also features live entertainment in the form of Firebird’s Children. The “Special Hell” evening screening at 7:00 has pre-movie entertainment from NERDprov, followed by the movie with texting-to-screen Hecklevision available to all cell phones present.
Both screenings offer raffles including one very special prize, a Seattle CSTS tote bag autographed by Nathan Fillion.
The screenings are in a new venue this year, the Central Cinema, which has a full restaurant and bar.
Tickets are selling fast so get yours while you can.
One of our most faithful sponsors, the podcast Sending a Wave is also supporting Equality Now in a more direct fashion by holding an Affilate Event on July 13.… Read more…
Saturday, June 29th, the doors open for the Toronto Can’t Stop the Serenity Event. It’s back at the Royal Cinema where the first screening was held in 2006.
After the screening of Serenity, there will be the always awesome auction, including such items as a bandana that was one of the original Universal prizes on the movie site, an authentic “Blue Sun” juice tin from the movie and some original craft items available nowhere else. Details are on the website.
All proceeds go to Equality Now.
A Toronto screening isn’t complete without a shindig!
Immediately following the movie, everyone is welcome to head over to The Standard at 667 College Street. Not only can you hobnob with fellow Browncoats you can enter a draw for one more exciting item.… Read more…
When CSTS got started all the events were on or near Joss Whedon’s birthday, June 23. Some cities still hold their events that weekend.
First up on Friday is Lawrence, Kansas who are back with a screening. The ticket price has been lowered to only $8.00 but there is additional content with Felicia Day’s The Guild, Season 1 being shown.
Saturday June 22 has 4 screenings! Pittsburgh is back with their 8th screening. It’s in a new location, Off The Wall Theater in Carnegie, PA. This year they are asking for donations at the door rather than selling tickets in advance and are requesting $5.00 – $10.00. They have 2 silent auctions, games, raffles and of course, Serenity. After 7 previous screenings, you can be sure they know how to have a good time!… Read more…
We often get asked “What is the point of Can’t Stop the Serenity? I can watch my DVD/Blu-ray of Serenity anytime at home. Why should I support a local event?” We’d like to share our answer with you. By supporting a local Can’t Stop the Serenity event, you are helping to change the world. Now, that might seem like a pretty big claim, but here’s where it’s true. The money which you hand over at a local event for a few hours of entertainment, some merchandise, a few raffle tickets or perhaps to win something cool in an auction goes to support the vital work of Equality Now. And what does Equality Now do with it? They make positive change happen. Often, that change is in places far from your home such preventing child marriage in the Middle East, and protecting the rights of women in Africa and Asia.… Read more…
In the 2012 year, Can’t Stop The Serenity raised $110,465.98 for Equality Now and 19 other charities. This brings our total to over $800,000.00 U.S. over the last 7 years. New cities joined the cause and we had events in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States
With Equality Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, we are especially pleased to be able to donate in this banner year.
Thank you to all our sponsors, organizers, and participants, for contributing to this tremendous success!
We deeply appreciate your commitment and generosity in helping us to support the rights of women and girls worldwide.… Read more…
We asked our sponsors why they support Can’t Stop The Serenity.
Leah Wilson, Editor-in-Chief of Smart Pop replies:
My favorite part of working on BenBella’s Smart Pop titles is the
contact we get to have with fandom — with the people who devote their
time and energy to not only building community, but doing good on
behalf of the books and shows and films they love.
It’s a (wonderful) inevitability that communities bear strong
resemblance, especially in values, to the properties that inspire
them. And so the strongest fan communities grow up around properties
that value community. The communities who most strongly reach out to
help others are the communities whose heroes do the same.
We’re proud to support Can’t Stop the Serenity not just because of
Equality Now (as incredibly worthwhile an organization as it is!).… Read more…
When I Speak was performed at Equality Now’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. It was written by Joss Whedon and performed by three young women who embody just one of the many struggles women and girls face everyday in countries around the world.
It is a stark and moving reminder of why Can’t Stop The Serenity supports Equality Now.
Yasmeen Hassan, the new Global Director for Equality Now recorded a video to thank us, the Browncoats, for our support over the last 6 years. She talks about some of the work that EN has done recently, and the strides made in equality for women and girls in such places as Libya and Brazil.
The video is a strong reminder of why we support Equality Now.
We’re celebrating the five years of Can’t Stop the Serenity, and our wonderful sponsors, in conjunction with the California Browncoats, are proud to give you the chance to win some fantastic prizes in our online auction for Equality Now.
Money raised from the auction will be included in the CSTS 2010 Global Donation Total. Your bids will help us to reach this year’s goal of US $150,000 raised for charity!
The first round of auctions runs from 17 August 2010 to 24 August 2010 on eBay.
This is a wonderful opportunity to own some awesome prizes, and help Equality Now fight for the rights of women and girls who can’t fight for themselves, so bid high and bid often!
Highlights include:
Serenity: Float Out cover art signed by Joss Whedon, Jo Chen & Alan Tudyk
Serenity: Float Out original page art by Patric Reynolds
Two Weekend Passes to the Browncoat Ball in Charlotte, NC
Autographs from Firefly and Serenity cast members, as well as Jane Espensen, Greg Edmonson and the cast of The Guild
Can’t Stop the Serenity (CSTS) is a unique opportunity to indulge your geeky side while doing some good! Since 2006, fans have organized screenings of Joss Whedon's Serenity to raise funds and awareness to support Equality Now in their work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world. Join us as we aim to misbehave for a good cause!
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.
