Happy Birthday Mr. Whedon..Take some Action!

This day marks the birth of the biggest damn hero of all, Joss Whedon. Last night I saw Serenity in a room with a bunch of browncoats. Twas shiny. Today, I ask all of you to do something...anything...that is good for the world. Right a letter or email for Equality Now. See what's shaking at Amnesty International. Donate money for the Make-a-Wish charity over at Slayathon (and tell them i sent you!). Just do something....and honor the man that has gifted us with so much exciting and imaginative entertainment!

Serenity Now Equality Now Screenings this Week!

Don't forget to get your tickets for the upcoming screenings of Serenity in honor of Joss Whedon's birthday and his favorite charity Equality Now! I have got mine and will be at the Portage Theatre Chicago screening on friday in my blue sun shirt and Jayne hat yall!


Fans Organize 'Global Sci-Fi Charity Event Of The Year'

Fans of the science fiction movie 'Serenity' will be holding screenings in 51 cities in nine countries to raise money and awareness for Equality Now, an international women's rights advocacy group. In its second year, Can't Stop The Serenity looks to raise over $100,000 in donations for the charity.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 7, 2007 -- For the second year, screenings of the science fiction film 'Serenity' will be held around the world in late June to raise money and awareness for an international women's rights advocacy group. The unprecedented effort marks the culmination of a year's work by fans to bring a writer's vision of equality to a mass audience.

Can't Stop The Serenity [CSTS was conceived as a tribute to writer-director Joss Whedon on his birthday, June 23, by holding screenings of his 2005 film 'Serenity' wherever supporters were able to organize events. Proceeds from the events are donated to Equality Now, a charitable organization that Whedon's mother, Lee Stearns, helped launch. In 2006, there were events in 47 cities worldwide, raising over $65,000 for Equality Now.

By their very nature, science fiction fans want to improve their world
Fans of 'Serenity,' and its television predecessor "Firefly," are fervent in their support of Whedon's works. That fervor helps drive the CSTS events forward.

"By their very nature, science fiction fans want to improve their world," said Devin Pike, global organizer of the 2007 CSTS events. "Whether it's Roddenberry's utopian view of eliminating poverty and prejudice in the next two centuries, or Whedon's saga of rebels rising up against tyranny, sci-fi fans are naturally compelled to try and make the world around them a better place. The Can't Stop The Serenity events allow that passion and drive to work towards bringing the issue of gender equality to the foreground."

Events are scheduled in fifty-one (51) cities in nine countries, meeting the first stated goal of the organization to hold screenings in over fifty cities. A full list of cities holding screening events can be found at CantStopTheSerenity.com. CSTS organizers have also stated a goal of raising over $100,000 USD for Equality Now with the 2007 events.

Founded in 1992, Equality Now aims to address the gender disparity in the human rights movement, which had grown to dismiss issues such as domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation, and sex trafficking as "cultural" or "private." Whedon has been honored by Equality Now for his work on "strong female characters" in television and film.

While the CSTS effort is coordinated on a global scale, organizers in individual cities have been hard at work to make their events a unique, show-stopping experience for attendees:



In Portland, the birthplace of the CSTS screenings, ten percent of the proceeds will go to the Women's Film Initiative (a project of Film Action Oregon)
The events in North Carolina (Raleigh and Charlotte) will have production-used props and costumes from "Firefly" and 'Serenity' on display
Frequent Whedon collaborator Jane Espenson will appear at a question-and-answer session preceding the Dallas/Fort Worth screening

"One of the wonderful things about the CSTS screenings is the flexibility organizers have in planning their events. They range from intimate gatherings to full-blown shindigs. The fan community in each participating city should give organizers medals for their creativity on a less-than-shoestring budget," Pike said.

To assist in making the events appeal to a broad audience, organizers turned to companies -- Universal Home Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, Quantum Mechanix, and BenBella Books, among others -- to donate goods and services to be used as giveaways. The prizes made available to organizers as door prizes range from hand-knitted hats to a cabin for two on "The Browncoat Cruise," a 'Serenity'-themed cruise event held in December.

In addition, members of the online community MySpace, who are "friends" of the CSTS organization, are getting exclusive access to an auction of prints by artist Jo Chen in late May. Proceeds from the auctioned prints, which are signed by Chen, Joss Whedon, and actress Jewel Staite, will go to Equality Now.

"Being involved with Can't Stop The Serenity is amazing," Pike said. "It's easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day details of planning the events, but when I step back and look at the scale of what we've accomplished in the last two years, it's phenomenal. I'm proud of the work we've done so far, and look forward to the future."

Episode #019 Killer in Me and Long Way Home Buffy Comic Roundup

Special guests Gwen and Casey chat with me about season seven's "Killer in Me" episode and issues 1-4 of Buffy Season 8 "The Long Way Home". We also chat about the future for the Buffy and Angel comics and about our love of the whedonverse in general.

Last Chance to Save Veronica Mars!

Head over to this link for a few more last minute ideas to save our plucky Private Jane, Veronica! The Jericho fans managed to save their show...why can't we do the same! So send some emails and make a few phone calls....

Come see/listen to a radio play written by your truly!

Hey...so I write plays sometimes in my copius spare time. My super hero radio play, Stella Stargirl Episode 6: Boy Meets Stargirl is being staged this friday night at my theatre company Strawdog in Chicago at 3829 N Broadways near Wrigley Field. Our latest installment of the Strawdog Radio Theatre begins at 8p and tickets are a cheap $15 (i might be able to get you in cheaper...there are 2-4-1 student tickets and I have some 2-4-1's myself)...then stick around and enjoy our bar and watch the Starwdog Hit Factory Presents featuring my play and two other fabulous entries starting at 10:30 p. Good times will be had by all. I will be drunk in the corner.

www.strawdog.org
-Aly

Undead America Needs You!

You know you wanna write for me. Seriously....I need some help. If you have an article in mind...let me know. I have many segments to chose from...pick one and shoot me something.

And here's an assignment: For an upcoming podcast, I want to feature non-buffy believers...specifically the spouses, family members, and friends of you die-hard buffy geeks out there. I would love to hear their responses to your rapid Whedon Geekdom. They can call my hotline, send me an email, or record an mp3 and mail it to me. It will be cool...everyone is doing it.

Segments to write:

-Music and the buffyverse
-Designer importer fragrances..If you like Buffy, you'll love.....
-Where are the Now?
-Essays
-Toy and Collectible Reviews
-News hounds...you could gather up interesting news bits for me
-Podcast Monsters
-Gaming and the Whedonverse...do you play the RPG and have a great story line or character you would like to share? What's your favorite CCG character deck?
-Forum Roundups-what's happening on whedon discussion boards
-Book and Comic reviews...

the list goes on. I am also trying to set up live interview capabilities...so I might be needing some of you to join me as a guest on the show. Or if say, your Christian Kane and like wanna chat or make out or something..give me a call...PLEASE!

okay..that's enough begging.

Episode #018 Not Dead Yet, Der Kindestod, Forgotten Memories Interview, S8, & More

Hey I am not dead.

Buffy Between the Lines Audio Drama Teaser


News from the Whedonverse:
www.whedonesque.com
www.saveveronicamars.tv
Support local awesome book stores like Women and Children First
Preorder Serenity (Collector's Edition)
Preorder How I Met Your Mother - Season 1

Genuine Molded Plastic:
Inara Strikes Statue
Ask DST update
Review of Watcher's Book Action Figure Set


Comics:
Synopsis and Review of Buffy Season 8 #3 Long Way Home Part III

Essay:
Der Kindestod and Folklore by Prof Elizabeth

DIY Whedon:
Interview w/ Forgotten Memories creator Emma Paige Langley Part I