Firefly

Portland, Oregon - On June 23, as part of an unprecedented worldwide event conceived here in Portland, filmgoers at Cinema 21 will screen the Universal Pictures film ’Serenity’. Proceeds will benefit Equality Now, a non-profit organization which works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure.

Conceived late last year by Portland fans of the Joss Whedon motion picture, the coordinated Serenity Now/Equality Now effort includes over thirty such charity screenings in the United States, Canada, and Australia on June 22, 23, and 24, all to benefit Equality Now, one of writer/director Whedon’s favorite charities.

The June 23 date of many of the screenings is significant both because it mirrors that of one of the advance screenings of ’Serenity’ held by Universal Pictures last summer — and because it is Whedon’s birthday.

But this year, unlike last year’s advance showings of the film, fans themselves have organized the screenings together with their local venues on a far grander global scale as a fundraiser for Equality Now.

"There are two ways to fight a battle like ours," said Whedon, best known for creating the iconic female character series ’Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, and a dedicated supporter of Equality Now. "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."

"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," said Amanda Sullivan of Equality Now. "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!"

Portland’s screening is presented by PDX Browncoats, a group of local fans of ’Serenity’ and its precursor television series, ’Firefly’. The screening will take place at Cinema 21, an independently-owned, locally-operated movie theater located in Northwest Portland. Other sponsors are still to be announced.

"The watchword here really is ’benefit’, said Christopher Frankonis, coordinator of the worldwide Serenity Now/Equality Now event and a member of the local PDX Browncoats group. "Naturally, fans receive the benefit of seeing ’Serenity’ on the big screen. But more significantly, the important work of Equality Now benefits from a truly unique worldwide fundraiser. And Joss Whedon, of course, gets the benefit of it being a sort of global birthday ’thank you’ from his fans."

The Portland Serenity Now/Equality Now charity screening will be held on Friday, June 23, at 9:00 PM. Cinema 21 is located at 616 NW 21st Avenue.

Tickets will be available online via PDX Browncoats and in person at Cinema 21.

For additional information, contact:

Christopher Frankonis (a.k.a. The One True b!X) Tel: 503-939-7071 Email: theonetruebix@gmail.com

Worldwide Screenings: http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/
Portland Screening: http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/
Equality Now: http://www.equalitynow.org/