Can’t Stop The Serenity  

Presented by the Arizona Browncoats

Sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange

During the WGA Writer’s Strike in 2007-2008, Joss Whedon, his brothers Zack and Jed Whedon, and Jed’s then fiance (now wife) Maurissa Tancharoen began discussing a topic that was often discussed during those days; “Why do we even need the studios these days?” Well, Joss and family did something about it. With the help of Firefly’s Nathan Fillion, The Guild’s Felicia Day, and Doogie Howser himself, Neil Patrick Harris, they produced, out of pocket, a 45 minute musical that ranks along with the best of Joss Whedon’s work and released it initially onto the internet, followed by DVD and Bluray. Production of a sequel was in the early stages when Joss was given the helm of the upcoming blockbuster based on Marvel’s The Avengers. Fans are begrudgingly accepting the trade-off. (2008, 42 minutes, shown in Bluray)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1227926/ 

When Joss Whedon’s space western Firefly was cancelled before it’s prime, the fans began to organize. They held get-togethers, wrote letters, and showed up at conventions in such numbers that Universal had no choice but to give the franchise a shot at the big screen. The result was an epic, comedic, and dramatic thrill ride that has earned a place on countless lists of the best science fiction movies of all time. (2005, 119 minutes, shown in 35mm)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/

Formed in the oncoming storm of the release of Serenity, the Arizona Browncoats are a group of fans of great writing, not just of Joss Whedon. Rather than simply reveling in the memories of a short lived tv series and an under-performing feature film, they believe the only future a group like this has is in doing good in their community.

“A man learns all the details of a situation like ours, well, then he has a choice.”

“I don’t believe he does.”

-Firefly

In 1992, Jessica Neuwirth founded Equality Now along with Navanethem Pillay and Feryal Gharahi, to address the gender disparity in the human rights movement, which had grown to dismiss violations as “cultural” or “private”. Issues such as domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation, trafficking, and reproductive rights were not part of the agendas of established human rights organizations.

Neuwirth was a student of Lee Stearns, who founded the first Amnesty International chapter run exclusively by high school students. Stearns is Joss Whedon’s mother.

Whedon has been outspoken in his support of the organization and gender equality initiatives. You can hear his remarks on why equality is paramount in this YouTube clip, where he accepts a special recognition award from Equality Now.

In picking Equality Now as the organization receiving the proceeds of the global screenings, the organizers of Can’t Stop The Serenity voice their support of the work done around the world by EN.

http://www.equalitynow.org

We are here to support equality. We hold true to the the ideas that people should “aim to misbehave” if it means doing the right thing, that a government shouldn't destroy the rights of its citizens, and that anyone can make a difference even if they don't believe it. We support our causes and do what we do because we live in countries that give us the freedom to do so. But there are other people out there who can't do what we do. So, once a year, we hold Can't Stop the Serenity: a charity screening to raise money for Equality Now.

http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com