News From September 30, 2005
Send Us An Audience Report
Once you're back from seeing Serenity, send us a report on the audience you saw it with. Was it mainly fans? Mainly non-fans (or, not-yet-fans)? How did the film play for them?
To send us a report, either click "Send A Report" in the upper right-hand corner, or join the Yahoo! group and send it to everyone directly. But please note: Try to keep spoilers for the movie off the Yahoo! group/mailing list.
News From September 28, 2005
Word On The Street
A local Browncoat walks into Music Millennium in southeast Portland to buy the Serenity soundtrack. Not knowing where the soundtracks section is, he wanders around a little. While doing so, he stumbles past the middle of an overheard conversation between two employees.
"Yeah, I want to see it," says the man on the second level. "But people are saying there are some changes, and I don't want any changes. I want it to be exactly the same!"
The woman on the first floor says they should go see it on Friday. Asked where it's playing, she says all over the place, but she prefers the theater near her house because of the stadium seating.
The local Browncoat finally takes the plunge.
"You talking about Serenity?"
That is, of course, what they are talking about. The local Browncoat looks up to the man. "Don't worry about the changes."
Almost in unison they say, "You've seen it?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about the changes."
He looks down. "Okay, good. I'll take your word for it. But I'll hunt you down if you're wrong."
After finding the soundtracks section, and the Serenity CD, on his way back to the counter the local Browncoat stops again, and lets them know that fans will be going to the 11:30 AM and 10:30 PM shows at Century Eastport (which obviously was the theater she was talking about earlier).
Hard not to feel the hopeful definition of sanguine when a conversation like this is encountered completely at random and entirely by accident.
Are You Joining Us On Friday?
As reported earlier, many local Browncoats are seeing Serenity at Century 16 Eastport on opening day -- this Friday, September 30.
Why not join PDX Browncoats and then take our poll so we can try to get a sense of who will be there any any of those showings?
Currently, most of us who have spoken up on our group mailing list are hitting either the 11:30 AM, the 10:30 PM or both.
News From September 27, 2005
No Midnight Showing?
At this point, it appears as if all Portland theaters who will be showing Serenity have posted their showtimes on Fandango, with Regal Lloyd Center 10 Cinema finally posting theirs today.
None of those four are playing the film at midnight.
So as it stands today, the showtimes listed in the upper left-hand corner of this site are the opening day showings for which multiple Browncoats have bought tickets. Both of those showings are at Century 16 Easport.
News From September 26, 2005
Browncoat Showtimes For Opening Day
Various local Browncoats intend, of course, to try to see the film on opening day with at least some form of coordination. Right now, we now that more than one person is going to the 11:30 AM and/or 10:30 PM showings at Century 16 Easport.
If a midnight showing appears when Regal posts their showtimes, it's a near certainty that local Browncoats will be attending that one as well, and if so we will add it to the links we've placed on the main page here, right beneath the general ticket-buying link.
News From September 24, 2005
M.E. Russell Interviews Joss
Some of us have been rather expectant of this since we first got wind of it. Tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Oregonian includes an interview with Joss Whedon (SPOILER), conducted by M.E. Russell (who may local Browncoats have met at the advance screenings earlier this year).
Clearly the first good part of this is the excellent coverage for Serenity this means in the Portland area just five days before the Big Damn Movie finally opens.
But the second good part of this is that Russell posted the full interview (SPOILER) over on his own CulturePulp website -- although we note with some annoyance that the paper, when pointing people towards the full-length interview, includes not spoiler warning.
We've included such a warning, obviously. But just in case you missed it somehow: Do not read this interview if you are trying to remain entirely unspoiled. The print version, however, only contains one minor spoiler which is something firmly established very early on in the film's opening sequence.
Theaters Start Advance Tickets Sales
Earlier today, two local Century theaters put tickets on sale, although neither includes a midnight screening.
For that, we may need to wait until Regal puts up their tickets, although we have no word whatsoever is any of Regal's theaters are scheduling a midnight show.
Keep watch here in News, on the main page, on the shindigs page, and on the Yahoo! group for news about coordinating attendance at a given showing or showings.
Fans Choose Two Of Three Episodes For Benefit
With the members poll having closed, we now know which two episodes will screen at today's benefit, in addition to "Serenity" -- the series' two-hour pilot.
In the end, 29% of members who responded to the poll chose "Out of Gas" and "Objects in Space" as the two other episodes to air, just beating out the pairing of "Jaynestown" and "Out of Gas" which received 26% of the vote.
News From September 23, 2005
Sweet Mention Of 'Serenity' In 'Oregonian'
Somehow this appears to have been missed by everyone, since it doesn't seem to have shown up on the PDX Browncoats group.
Back on last Saturday, The Oregonian published a Shawn Levy piece on how Fall is the time for "screen gems" to crop up. It includes the following very good mention of Serenity.
"Serenity" -- The beloved and short-lived TV sci-fi series "Firefly," created by Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), returns in a hotly anticipated big-screen incarnation. Preview audiences who got long-lead sneak peeks have been very happy -- and the trailer looks hot-diggity enough to appeal to newbies. (Sept. 30)
Since we appear to have only just now come across this, it's unclear just where this piece ran in the print edition, so prominence of placement and/or likelihood that it was seen by lots of people is tough to judge.
More On Bloggers At Press Screenings
Yesterday we suggested that the two processes spotted for bloggers getting into press screenings (one via email, and one via a form) were not related, but the reality is that both are being run by an outfit called Grace Hill Media.
Today, another one has been spotted. This one also is being run through that same firm.
We've not yet heard of anyone receiving back a definite confirmation of Grace Hill Media getting their registration, but at this point it's at least safe to say that this is legitimate, and both the second and third links here indicate that if you get on this list, there's no waiting in line because your name will be at the door.
News From September 22, 2005
Ask Regal Cinemas About Midnight Showings
Ok, so here's another assignment for you all. Send comments to Regal Cinemas asking if any of their theaters here have booked Serenity for a midnight screening. Here's how.
Go to this page, where to start off you can skip all the radio buttons regarding your theater experience. But beneath those is a comments field, in which you might put something like the following.
Local fans awaiting the release of "Serenity" are trying (rather desperately at this point) to determine what theaters, if any, in Portland are booking the film for a midnight showing when it opens.
Any information you could provide about this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Leave the theater name and manager name fields blank. For the movie title put Serenity, for the date put 09/30/2005, and for time put 12:01. Including your name and/or contact information will tend to make them pay attention moreso than if you don't include it. Be sure to include your email address so they can respond.
Response From Century Theaters
What follows just below is a response from Century Theaters regarding the request of local fans to have a midnight showing of Serenity at Century 16 Easport.
Thank you for contacting us with your suggestion to have a 12:01 AM showing of SERENITY at the Century Eastport Theatres. At this time we do not have any plans to play a 12:01 AM showing anywhere. We will have show times set on Tuesday, September 27, 2005. Thank you for writing.
Which would suggest we need to pin our hopes on other local theaters. There will be some rather profound annoyance if Springfield is getting a midnight showing (which it is) and the Portland market isn't (which would be insane).
Bloggers Invited To Press Screenings
If you're a blogger, apparently 'Versal Pictures wants you to see Serenity along with the traditional press.
To register to attend an upcoming press screening near you -- they are all being held next week, with Portland's scheduled for September 26 -- fill out this form with the relevant information, including your blog name and URL, and (ostensibly anyway) you will be put on the press list at the door.
Which means no dealing with passes, and no waiting in lines. Just make sure you really do intend to blog about the movie afterwards.
Note: The list and form at the above URL apparently is not related to the other process of getting onto the press lists as a blogger which was mentioned today by Glenn Reynolds.
News From September 21, 2005
Action Alert Regarding Midnight Showing!
According to a manager at the Century 16 Eastport theater, as of today there are no bookings there for a midnight showing of Serenity when it opens next week. However, there is a somewhat longshot action we can take.
Final bookings for movies which open on a Friday are made as late as the Monday or Tuesday of that opening week.
Many of us feel that we'd like a midnight showing specifically at Century 16 Eastport not just because of their facilities (such as stadium seating), but because they dealt so well with us during the three advance screenings of the film back in May and June.
So here's what you can do: Go to the Century Theaters Comments Page and click the Tell us about our Customer Service... link.
Once there, after providing your contact information, select "Oregon" for the state, "Century 16 Eastport" for the theater, "N/A" for the movie title (there is no option for Serenity), "September" and "30" and "2005" for the date (the date on which Serenity opens), and "12am - 2am" (at the bottom of the list) for the time.
What follows is an example of a message that has already been sent by one PDX Browncoats member via the "Additional Comments" field of that form, which is the cruicial part of this.
As a thank you of sorts for Century Eastport's patience and professionalism during the three advance screenings of the film "Serenity" in May and June of this year, we local Portland-area fans of that film (and the Joss Whedon television series which spawned it) respectfully urge that Century Theaters book a midnight showing of "Serenity", which opens on September 30, at Century Eastport.
Given our response to the three advance screenings of "Serenity" held at Century Eastport (sold-out crowds plus people who wanted to go but couldn't get in), it's a pretty safe bet that a midnight showing of "Serenity" at Century Eastport also would sell out quickly.
Please give serious consideration to booking such a midnight showing at Century Eastport.
My thanks.
And here is a second example of approaches some PDX Browncoats have already taken in contacting Century Theaters.
I attended the May 5 and June 23 advance screenings of "Serenity". The Century 16 Eastport did a fabulous job for large groups of very enthusiastic fans. I would like the opportunity to give them more of my business at a Midnight Opening for "Serenity". I intend to be at whatever Midnight Opening is available, but I hope that you will consider having it at the Century 16 Eastport, which has both a fine venue and great staff. Thanks!
As we said, this is something of a longshot. But it costs us absolutely nothing to send this messages urging Century Theaters to book this midnight showing into Century 16 Eastport -- which means there's no reasonable argument in favor of not sending them.
So get to it!
Update On Up-Front Costs For 'Firefly' Benefit
As of today, the fundraiser for the up-front costs to cover theater rental and the rights to screen "Firefly" episodes stands at 37% towards the goal.
It is important that, at the very least, the cost of the rights -- which must be paid before the event -- be covered as soon as possible. So if you haven't contributed, pelase do so.
Remember, the point of trying to cover the up-front costs ourselves is so that the proceeds taken in at the event itself (minus the $1/seat which goes to the venue) go to Mercy Corps and not to cover costs.
We want the event itself to be a gift of sorts from PDX Browncoats and other fans, so that September 24 can be about raising money for Mercy Corps.
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