Founders Of
About Us
Browncoat is a slang term from the space western TV series Firefly (and its big-screen "sequel", Serenity) for a member of the Independent Faction, which lost to the Alliance in the Unification War. It is also a nickname for fans of the series.
The original incarnation of PDX Browncoats (which encompases fans in and around the Portland of Oregon and the Vancouver of Washington) first met in July 2004, and lasted until early 2005. Shortly thereafter, some of the original members -- and a good number of new ones -- met during the advance screenings of Serenity held in May and June of that year.
By the middle of 2006, Browncoats the world over knew of the Portland of Oregon as the founding city of Can't Stop The Serenity, the unprecedented worldwide charity screenings movement benefitting Equality Now which just completed its third year of coordinated events centered around Joss Whedon's birthday.
Contents
Can't Stop the Serenity 2009!
For our 4th annual screening of the movie Serenity to benefit Equality Now, we are excited to be returning to Cinema 21. Equality Now is an organization that works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Over the last three years, Portland has raised over $28,000 for Equality Now. The global Can't Stop the Serenity effort has raised more than $250,000!
This year we will have two screenings including the first ever Special Hell screening, where we the fans can poke a little fun at our favorite Joss Whedon film. Doors for the first screening will be at 3:00 pm and doors for the Special Hell screening will be at 10:30 pm. The Special Hell screening will be 21+. Between screenings, come on over to the Gypsy right across the street! There will be a pub quiz, costume contest, and Dr Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog karaoke! So come on out for a shiny day of Serenity fun for a great cause!
Tickets for the screenings go on sale Friday, May 15th and can be purchased at Box Office Tickets via Cinema 21's website.
Early screening (doors @ 3:00 pm; movie @ approx. 4:00 pm) - $10
Special Hell screening (21+, doors @ 10:30 pm; movie @ approx. 11:30 pm) - $12
Package price (both screenings) - $18
For more information on sponsorship, volunteering, etc, check out our Event Page.
Cinema 21
Some of our lovely sponsors and friends:
Our Shindigs
Traditionally, members of PDX Browncoats meet socially on the first weekend of every month. These shindigs have tended to alternate between Saturdays and Sundays, so watch the forums or keep an eye out here for details.
On The Web
Notices
PDX Browncoats are incorporating. We hope to file with the state as a nonprofit organization by the end of February.
If you would like to participate in crafting our Mission, Vision, and Bylaws, please join the discussion in our Incorporation Forum
As first announced at Firefly at the Mission on 21 August 2007, PDX Browncoats raised more than $13,000 for Equality Now at this year's Cant Stop The Serenity charity screenings (and over $1,000 for the Women's Film Initiative). That's a combined total that nearly doubles last year's take of $7,200.
As officially reported on 20 September 2007, with that total the Portland of Oregon has held onto the fabled Grizwald for the second year running.
Annual Events
Can't Stop The Serenity (Serenity Now/Equality Now)
Every June
As the founding city of Can't Stop The Serenity, Portland raised over $7,200 (more than any other participating city) in that event's inaugural year of 2006, accounting for more than 10% of the global total of more than $65,000.
In 2007, PDX Browncoats surpassed that inaugural take -- and its 2007 goal of $10,000. In mid-September, it was announced that we'd held onto the fabled Grizwald, awarded each year to the city whose charity screenings raise the most money for Equality Now.
For 2008, the PDX Browncoats raised $9,000! Although we didn't hang onto the Grizwald, we still did an amazing job.
We're already gearing up for 2009. So join our forums and get ready for this year's 4th annual event. Portland's 2009 Can't Stop the Serenity forum
Odd Jobs
In addition to our regular monthly shindigs, PDX Browncoats occasionally pull off special jobs. Announcements of future jobs will appear on the discussion board and listed here as well.
The Derby Job
Date TBA (Summer 2008)
PDX Browncoats will be building a Firefly-class soapbox racer for next year's Portland Adult Soapbox Derby. This plan is in the very early discussion stage. If you'd like to get involved, join our forums and check our 2008 Soapbox Derby thread.
The Flanvention Backup Bash Job
08 December 2006 - 10 December 2006
A handful of us headed to Burbank for Flanvention II only to find it cancelled, and find ourselves thrown instead into the midst of the Browncoats' Backup Bash. Technically, not a "job" but worth mentioning here anyway.
The Equality Now Job
23 June 2006
Also known as the original Serenity Now/Equality Now (eventually to become Can't Stop The Serenity). Along with dozens of other cities across the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, PDX Browncoats hosted a charity screening of Serenity to benefit Equality Now. Portland's screening netted approximately $7,200.
The Kickball Job
30 September 2006
At the end of September (on the one-year anniversary of Serenity's theatrical release), the Eugene Browncoats challenged us to kickball. We held our own, but they won.
The Obsession Job
29 December 2005
Members gathered at the Laurelhurst Theater in Southeast Portland to have our photograph taken beneath the marquee, to prove that we were seeing Serenity on the big screen yet again, even though we all had our DVD copies.
The Hurricane Relief Job
24 September 2005
At the Guild Theater in downtown Portland, PDX Browncoats hosted a charity screening of three Firefly episodes to benefit the hurricane relief efforts of Oregon's own Mercy Corps.
The Advance Screening Job
May/June 2005
The current incarnation of PDX Browncoats, in large part, owes its existence to the three advance screenings of the unfinished Serenity held around the country in May and June of 2005.
Contact Us
Diana Hildenbrand - artemis (current Board member)
Kara Helgren - ShinyFab (current Board member)
Jake Mareneck - pyratejack
Anna Snyder - Galumbits (current Board member
Dae Low - daedreams
Lorenzo Ciacci - lono
Nance Cedar - Rusty
Colophon
This website is powered by Movable Type, hosted by the woman-owned Acorn Host, and maintained by The One True b!X. Our discussion forums run on SMF. Issues with this website should be directed to the webmaster. All other questions about PDX Browncoats should be asked on the forums, which is where all the action is.
If you have a pdxbrowncoats.com email address, login here. If not, you can request one. If you're working on one of our projects, login here. If not, ignore that.
Neither the PDX Browncoats group nor this website is affiliated in any way with Mutant Enemy Productions, Twentieth Century Fox Television, or Universal Pictures.