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September 25, 2005

Publicity Stunt

I'm always on the lookout for cool new things to do in D.C. Firmly entrenched in the suburbs, I made a commitment this summer to be more hip and urban. This has resulted in very good things.

-- With the help of Mr. Bad Apologies, I have seen a spate of local theatre (some terrific, like The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, and some mediocre like the all-male production of Les Liaisons Dangereues).

--I've attended a meeting of the Amnesty International USA D.C. Women's Human Rights Action Team (DC-WRAT), where I felt smug about being "an activist" but was ultimately bored. Nevertheless, I'm signed up to go to the Amnesty International's regional conference in Philadelphia in October.

--This weekend I worked as a volunteer at the 2005 Green Festival, a two-day party with a serious purpose: to accelerate the emergence of a new economic paradigm that is life-affirming and life-restoring.

Together we are cultivating a culture of sustainability and social equity that honors our interdependence with all life. Green Festival unites green businesses, social and environmental groups, visionary thinkers and thousands of community members in a lively exchange of ideas, commerce and movement building fun.

Learn: Attend lectures and workshops by thought leaders, business visionaries and community activists shaping the green movement.

Network: Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations who are committed to the possibility of a better world. See Network.

Get Involved! Learn about organizations effecting positive and sustainable change in our region, our country, and the around the planet.

Socialize: Have fun interacting with others, for the sheer joy of it. Meet interesting people who share common interests. Spend some time at the food court and listen to local musicians. Parents, find a place to relax in the Family Rest Stop.

Eat: Sample delicious, healthy, organic, and sustainable produced food prepared on site. ALL FOODWARE IS BIODEGRADEABLE - COMPOST! WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN FOODWARE TO THE EVENT.

Anyway, it was a fun mix of super-hippies, socially responsible investment, organic food (SUCH good vegan food!), and fair trade crafts. It was a little "Bush-hating" for my taste, but overall it was quite a love-fest, without being too touchy-feely. I even purchased some fun fair trade items, which I will discuss more in another post.

On Saturday night, in my mad dash from the Convention Center to the Lisner Auditorium, I noticed that there were swarms of African-Americans--dressed to the nines--all converging on the Convention Center. I had to traverse almost of the entire length of the building to get to my car, so I had ample time to recognize many prominent members of the community, member of Congress, and other famous black faces. In fact, I passed within 6 inches of Omarosa, who was chatting into a cell phone while surrounded by a bunch of friends. I couldn't quite figure out what everyone was up to, since they seemed a little dressed up for the Green Festival (where a shocking number of women did not deign to wear bras), but it turns out that the Convention Center was also hosting a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event. That's one of the reasons I love DC--there's always a good chance you'll see someone famous.

-- As I mentioned, on Saturday night I went to the fabulous GW Lisner Auditorium (by myself, no less) to see Madeleine Peyroux with Martha Wainwright). It was AWESOME. I had never heard of Martha Wainwright, but was utterly delighted, and Madeleine Peyroux lived up to her excellent reputation as a live performer.

--I've also gotten up to date with the local internet media, specifically DCist, Metroblogging DC, and Upcoming.org. That way, even if I'm not exactly rushing to cross the Maryland/DC border, I at least know what I'm missing.

Thanks to the magic of DCist, I've now discovered the joy of "Serenity Bloggers Bonanza". Or at least, what would be joy if they weren't being such punks about it. Let me explain.

The original notice went like this:

The PR folks for the forthcoming Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, etc.) science fiction movie Serenity are inviting bloggers to advance screenings. (List of cities here via an Excel document that didn't quite format right, but it's legible). It's free, and all they ask is that you blog something, good or bad, about it.

I went to the website and signed up. So far, so good. After submitting my information, the website gives you a nice little blurb about "don't stand in long lines, you have a special seat with The Press". If you have any trouble, find XXX XXXXX and she'll help you get situated. Lovely. I passed the word to all my local blogger friends, and we're planning on making a date of it.

BUT THEN...I got the following email:

From: Anne Leininger [mailto:anne@gracehillmedia.com]

Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:15 PM

To: 'Anne Leininger'

Subject: Serenity Blogger Bonanza - Washington, DC

Congratulations! You are one of the lucky bloggers to be chosen and confirmed for the screening of SERENITY for the time, date and the number of guests that you have requested. Please note, this confirmation DOES NOT guarantee you a seat at the screening.

To significantly increase your chances of getting into the screening, you MUST do the following:

• You MUST include the film’s synopsis on your blog (synopsis below) and you MUST link your blog to the SERENITY website (which has the trailer and production notes) http://www.serenitymovie.com and featured artwork. After you have screened the film, please discuss it on your blog. Please provide us the links to all of your blog posts on SERENITY at serenity@gracehillmedia.com
• Print out and bring a copy of this confirmation.
• Arrive at the theater AT LEAST 45 minutes before the show begins.
• Upon arrival at the theater, please find a UNIVERSAL PICTURES representative and inform him or her that you are part of the SERENITY BLOGGER BONANZA. The Universal rep will then instruct you as to what to do next.
• DO NOT bring in a camera or a cellular phone that takes pictures. They WILL be confiscated, and you will NOT be allowed into the screening.
• Have a great time!

Warmest wishes,
Your friends at Grace Hill Media

I've never watched Buffy or Angel, or the ill-fated (yet with a cult following) Firefly--and to be quite blunt, I'm not that crazy-excited about seeing Serenity. But in my quest to be hip and urban (and still stay fiscally solvent) a free movie screening seemed like a fun thing to do. Now it's becoming mired in "you must dos" and "to help get you a seats". Bah! Warm wishes indeed.

But since they were so helpful (although I would like to point out that this "Blogger Bonanza" is a stroke of PR genius--they get free publicity in hundreds of blogs--potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of people--all for the price of a "potential" seat at the screening), here's the synopsis.

Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

I'll be reviewing the movie in detail after I see in tomorrow evening. I'd better get a seat.

Comments

Posted by: La at September 25, 2005 09:36 PM

Posted by: Red at September 25, 2005 09:50 PM

Posted by: Flounder at September 26, 2005 03:46 PM

Posted by: Brian at September 26, 2005 03:46 PM

Posted by: Citizen Grim at September 27, 2005 02:27 PM

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