Canned Food Drives for Prescreenings? by Shiny

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Canned Food Drives for Prescreenings?

POSTED BY: SHINY
UPDATED: Thursday, May 5, 2005 13:41
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Sunday, May 1, 2005 3:02 PM

*** UPDATE ***

I've only received indications from two cities, Austin (FilmGoddess at FFF.net) and Seattle (koolkatz at the Universal board) that might be doing this, so it looks like we're not going to pull this off this time, at least not in all 10 locations, but we're considering planning something similar for the premire in September when we'll have more time to organize. For any cities that have already organized and contacted their theatres and local food banks already, by all means please have the drive and let us know how it goes (also in San Francisco, there was a pre-existing plan to sell raffle tickets to raise money for the 'Equality Now' charity, so we encourage browncoats attending the SF screening to bring a few dollars for that instead of cans)! But even if your city has not organized a drive, there is still plenty you can do to show people what a huge hit Serenity will be and what great and dedicated fans browncoats are:

1) Be friendly, patient and polite to theatre staff and other patrons (and of course other browncoats!!!)
2) Buy plenty of stuff at the concession stand ("nothing buys bygones like cash")
3) Applaud/cheer/laugh loudly at all the appropriate moments, but avoid going to the 'special hell' by being quiet otherwise (and turn off any gorram cellphones, etc)
4) Pick up after yourself and others around you -- leave the theatre spotless, that will leave a postitive impression!
5) Take lots of pictures (outside, of people in line, etc. -- NOT IN THE MOVIE!!!)
6) If you see any back-births using a recording device in the movie, please notify theatre management (discretely, don't cause a scene!)
7) Thank all the theatre staff and management (and any Universal folks or BDHs that may be present) for the prescreening; if anyone has brought thank-you cards, SIGN THEM!!!

More great ideas for making the prescreenings a huge success here:

http://forums.prospero.com/foxfirefly/messages?msg=22737.1
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=9792&m=135699#135699

*** END UPDATE ***

Ok everyone, if the idea of doing canned food drives at the various Serenity prescreenings is going to work out, we need to get organized right away. How can you help?

1. Post whether or not you think we should do this. Personally, I think its a great way to get a little extra attention/promotion for the movie and to show everyone (*including theatre managers and Universal*) that those back-births who made threats when the prescreenings sold out are the exception; as a rule, browncoats are friendly, polite, intelligent and too damn pretty to die. :)

2. Volunteer to help out if you live near one of the screenings EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TICKETS. How much would it rock if the media picked up on huge (and WELL BEHAVED) crowds of fans lined up at local theatres just to drop off some canned food donations as a show of support for a movie that won't be released for another five months?

3. Review the release I've drafted below and give me some feedback and any suggestions for improving it (by the way, I just made up a quote and attributed it to Renee; if she doesn't like it I may have to re-write it or attribute it to someone else)

4. Contact local media (newspaper, radio, TV) outlets, particularly the ones affiliated with Universal/NBC. Once it's finalized, you can send a copy of the below release.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact(s):

Rob Cheng
Contributor, Browncoats.com
shiny@browncoats.com

Generous "Serenity" Fans Organize Canned Food Drives at Movie Prescreenings Across the Country

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- May 5, 2005 Hundreds of devoted fans of Joss Whedon's "Firefly" show have pledged to bring more than their tickets when they arrive at the AMC 14 Van Ness Thursday for the prescreening of the movie "Serenity", an epic follow-up to the beloved sci-fi show. The fans, who call themselves "Browncoats" after the show's protagonists, have organized a canned food drive to benefit local homeless shelters and to provide a little early promotion of the highly anticipated movie, whose prescreenings across the country have sold-out within hours. The canned food drive is only the latest in a series of grassroots volunteer efforts by the fans to support the show and help their communities at the same time.

"[The fans] took out a full-page ad thanking Fox and thanking the advertisers for supporting Firefly and did it in an incredibly organized fashion; I mean, they raised thousands of dollars for that. They also have raised thousands of dollars for several charities in the name of Firefly," said Executive Producer Chris Buchanan, in an interview on the Firefly DVD whose huge sales helped to greenlight Serenity.

In addition to the canned food drive, browncoats have contributed thousands of hours and raised tens of thousands of dollars for various efforts, including winter clothes drives, library donations, and PBS auction gifts. Last March, browncoats donated close to $14,000 worth of DVDs to troops serving overseas through the Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation's afloat library program.

"Firefly fans have always been willing to pitch in and help others out; it's part of what it means to be a browncoat," said Renee Balmert, Coordinator for the San Francisco Browncoats. "To paraphrase Joss, the show was really about how people create civilization in a world where no clear reward awaits the virtuous. We fans have really taken that to heart. That, and the humor in the face of hardship. And the occasional inappropriately-timed sexual innuendo. Perhaps I've said too much."

Serenity opens nationwide on September 30th.

---

All trademarks owned by Fox, 20th Century Fox, Mutant Enemy, or Universal Pictures. "Serenity" is copyright 2005 Universal Studios. "Firefly" is copyright 2002-2005 Mutant Enemy, Inc. and 20th Century Fox. This release was written by fans and WAS NOT reviewed or approved by Mutant Enemy, Inc., 20th Century Fox, or Universal Pictures.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 3:53 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

As I said over on the OB, I am up for bringing as much food as possible, but won't be able to do any of the organization since I don't live in Austin. Considering there have been so few responses so far I am beginning to get the feeling that most of the tickets were purchased by either scalpers or else Browncoats that do not frequent the various bbs, but possibly got the news from aicn.com. If the former is the case, the theater managers need to be aware there could be some problems.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 3:57 PM

SOUPCATCHER

Shiny,

1. I think it's a great idea.

2. I can help out at the San Francisco screening. I'll be coming up from the mid-Peninsula area but my schedule is very flexible.

3. The draft looks good.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 4:22 PM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Considering there have been so few responses so far I am beginning to get the feeling that most of the tickets were purchased by either scalpers or else Browncoats that do not frequent the various bbs, but possibly got the news from aicn.com. If the former is the case, the theater managers need to be aware there could be some problems.

It's possible, but let's give it 24 hours or so before we get too worried...I don't expect to get tons of responses on Sunday night.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 4:23 PM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:

2. I can help out at the San Francisco screening. I'll be coming up from the mid-Peninsula area but my schedule is very flexible.

Great, thanks! Mrs. Shiny and I will be coming up from the Peninsula ourselves. :)

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 5:01 PM

UNICORN

Having three small kids, I can't help out with organization much, but I'd be happy to get some cans over to the Chicago screening. Where is it, who's going, and whom do I contact to get more information? Since I have no tickets, I can be one of the "generous throng" of Browncoats. I play a good extra. : }

There is no such thing as a weed.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 6:29 PM

NKOSAZANA

Unfortunately I am not close to any of the screenings. But I do have a suggestion. Maybe you should start a "sign up" sheet for each area that will designate a donation collection attendant for each screening site.

Jenn

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 6:43 PM

SGTGUMP

I think that a canned food drive is a great idea for promoting the movie and expanding the fanbase. I also emailed the news release to the following people. I also tried CNN but they don't publish email addresses on their website.

FOXaroundtheworld@foxnews.com
Viewerservices@foxnews.com
Comments@foxnews.com
Foxnewsonline@foxnews.com
Afterhours@foxnews.com
Foxreport@foxnews.com
Studiob@foxnews.com
Newswatch@foxnews.com
FNS@foxnews.com
Living@MSNBC.com
viewerservices@msnbc.com
WebEditors@newsweek.com
Customer.Care@newsweek.com
Letters@newsweek.com
Editors@newsweek.com

That's about all I can do from Honduras.

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 8:01 PM

GRANITE

Charity is getting some press for another big movie

Source: www.scifi.com/scifiwire

Quote:
NY Episode III Fans Wait For Charity

Die-hard Star War fans launched a marathon "stand-a-thon" for charity on April 30 in New York in anticipation of the May 19 opening of George Lucas' upcoming Episode III—Revenge of the Sith, the Reuters news service reported. The around-the-clock line featured fans in various Star Wars costumes.

The event follows another nonstop street-side countdown kicked off by fervid Star War fans on April 2 across the country in Hollywood, the wire service reported.

In New York, fans registered for the stand-a-thon outside the Ziegfeld, New York's largest stand-alone movie theater, were fans drawn from 22 U.S. states and nine foreign countries, mainly West European but also including Japan, Peru and Brazil, Reuters reported. Line denizens are raising money to benefit Starlight Starbright., a charity for severely ill children.

Email for news tips to scifiwire (news source of scifi channel website): scifiwire@scifi.com

Please email these guys about any positve work browncoats are doing. They are big news in the world of scifi

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Sunday, May 1, 2005 8:27 PM

SOUPCATCHER

Shiny,

Has anything been lined up with homeless shelters? We may be able to accomplish the same goal by working with foodbanks instead. The SF Food Bank will drop off barrels and pick them up. I'm not sure how far in advance they need for scheduling. The theater owner would probably have to be in the loop.

San Francisco: http://www.sffoodbank.org/

Aside from that, here's the top canned/plastic/boxed* goods they were looking for (in case people are wondering what to bring):

canned vegetables
canned fruits
tuna
canned meats
soups, stews, and chili
peanut butter
cereal
pasta
rice
beans

* they do NOT want glass containers

Items to avoid:
sugary snacks
instant desserts
soda
candy

And it looks like there's a food bank in every city that has a screening (I didn't click on any of the links, just googled city+food+bank and got plenty of results).

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Monday, May 2, 2005 3:24 AM

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Quote:
Originally posted by Shiny:

3. Review the release I've drafted below and give me some feedback and any suggestions for improving it (by the way, I just made up a quote and attributed it to Renee; if she doesn't like it I may have to re-write it or attribute it to someone else)

Just from a boring legalistic p.o.v. - do you need clearance for the quote from Chris? To be honest, I'm not sure the piece needs either quote - one isn't to do with the drive, the other isn't (as yet) real - plus the shorter the story, the more likely they are to take it.

"I threw up on your bed"

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Monday, May 2, 2005 4:07 AM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:
Shiny,

Has anything been lined up with homeless shelters? We may be able to accomplish the same goal by working with foodbanks instead. The SF Food Bank will drop off barrels and pick them up. I'm not sure how far in advance they need for scheduling. The theater owner would probably have to be in the loop.

You're probably right; food bank makes a lot more sense.

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Monday, May 2, 2005 4:33 AM

ELLYDRAGON

I think it's a great gorram idea! But, unfortunately, I'm not near any locations myself. What about also organizing something similar for the opening night in September? We could even set up the same slogans etc if it goes that organized.

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Monday, May 2, 2005 5:43 AM

DIETCOKE

I'm going to Boston. I'm in, and will bring dry goods. Where do we take them?

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Monday, May 2, 2005 6:24 AM

FILMGODDESS

For those of you going to the Austin screening, I am organizing it and will contact Harry Knowles to see if he will post it on aicn. I'm planning on posting at the official site as well to make sure that we get plenty of people joining in.

"You can't take the sky from me."

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Monday, May 2, 2005 7:52 AM

SHINY

Quote:
Originally posted by filmgoddess:
For those of you going to the Austin screening, I am organizing it and will contact Harry Knowles to see if he will post it on aicn. I'm planning on posting at the official site as well to make sure that we get plenty of people joining in.

"You can't take the sky from me."

That's great, filmgoddess! You can probably pick up a collection barrel from a local food bank -- I'm taking Soup's suggestion and contacting these folks: http://www.sffoodbank.org/

Also, as someone suggested on the O.B. it would probably be a REALLY good idea to contact the local theatre and make sure they don't mind if you set up the food collection outside/near to the theatre.

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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Monday, May 2, 2005 8:05 AM

FILMGODDESS

Yeah I was going to call the theater today to make sure it's okay.
Wouldn't want to piss them off even more.

"You can't take the sky from me."

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Monday, May 2, 2005 12:25 PM

MAXTEMKIN

What a great idea. I'll be there to donate to the Chicago food drive!

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Tuesday, May 3, 2005 6:21 AM

NAKEDANDARTICULATE

Wash:
This is going to get pretty interesting.

Mal:
Define 'interesting'.

Wash:
'Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna donate can goods"

boston im comin and im bringin cans with me,thats right you heard me--cans.

"Hamsters is nice."

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Tuesday, May 3, 2005 9:39 AM

SKYDANCE

Time's very short on this, and I'm not going to any of the showings (I live in New Orleans). Here's some bullet points, though:

* You need an announcement on the main page of the website, YESTERDAY. Providing Haken with a 200 x 105 graphic would be a good idea, even if he doesn't have time to use it.

* You need a list of all sites, updated as people volunteer to handle each site.

If you think this would balance the karma of someone delivering threats ... I think you're right. And being a Browncoat is about seeing a wrongness and doing something about it. You've had less than a week to organize something major, though, and only 2 days left to get the word out. You need front page website coverage ... not a post in some forum.

I'm going to send a private message to Haken pointing out this thread, just by way of a heads-up. There's no way you can pull this off with the tiny amount of time you've got, but ... if it did happen, then it would say something pretty amazing about Browncoats.

________
"They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see the sky and they remember what they are."

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Tuesday, May 3, 2005 10:07 AM

SKYDANCE

Update: I do see that Shiny posted a thread over on the serenitymovie website ( http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/index.html?fuseaction=for
um.viewtopic&t=10949 ). I didn't see any link there from this thread, so I thought I would add one. Shiny seems to intend a post of participating sites once he knows for sure which shows will be set up to accept food.

________
"They weren't cows inside. They were waiting to be, but they forgot. Now they see the sky and they remember what they are."

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Wednesday, May 4, 2005 6:05 AM

SHINY

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Wednesday, May 4, 2005 6:32 AM

FORTNCOOKIE

bumping...

Shiny, I just caught this thread on FFF.net...I don't normally read the threads there...So we are waiting until the release on Sept 30th? I think that would be better in case some of us outer rim could have a hand. I read a few posts on how people suggested paypal but I thought giving directly to

www.secondharvest.com would be better.

Nothing to organize, unless we set up a table and asked for donations. I hate putting a person in the spot of having to be responsible for cash or loading food. From what I understand about Second Harvest they can buy food cheaper than we can buy it and make it stretch further.

But then people wouldn't see the love :lol:

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Wednesday, May 4, 2005 9:01 AM

SHINY

Yes, waiting for the 9/30 premiers to give us more time to prepare & organize. Yeah, the donating money angle is a good one to allow more people to participate, but the barrels full o' protein and other goodies for 'folks on the rim' makes a pretty appealing visual. Why not do both?

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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Thursday, May 5, 2005 1:41 PM

GRANITE

Just thought of something else that could be done - call the TV stations of the markets in which the BDM is showing tonight, and ask them if they know about the BDM.

Just search on Yahoo for TV stations for the markets (see ten cities list). I called a station in Sacramento, and they know about the screening.

If anyone has movie capture too, let's see if Serenity makes the news!

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