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« Ramblings From A Cracked (by the LPP) M&M
Can't Stop The Serenity 2008
First, I want to thank Famin for introducing me to this show and letting me know about CSTS! I had a wonderful time!
It started at 8 and it was really dead, so I wasn't sure how well it would have done. We went in and there was someone marking names off the list and I told her to just look for the person who gets the most stuff and that's us, but I had forgotten our names! She laughed and I gave her the correct name.
They had these really cool boxes and we
each got one. It was a big red Chinese takeout box filled with a big dinosaur, a small dinosaur, a chocolate Buddha, some chinese tattoos, a fortune cookie, some incense (but after the movie, I'm never burning that because I'm not quite sure if it really is incense), a CSTS pin and a little parasol.
This was Memphis's first year having a showing and I never saw it advertised around town. Needless to say, it wasn't very crowded so there were great chances to win something. I am such a lucky person that I won.... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! WOOHOO!!!! They even had 2nd chance prizes and I couldn't win any of those either.
They had several give aways and I almost went for the comic books, but I couldn't help myself and went for the parasol painted just like Kaylee's in the episode of Serenity. They also had a Jayne Hat (they actually had several so those people had a good chance), a DVD of Serenity, a couple of CD's, a necklace, 3 money packs and a fan club kit.
They also had a silent auction so I bid on a Jayne hat and won that one, so now I have a Jayne hat! My friend bid on and won a terrifyin' space monkey and a serenity brown bag.
Side note: I wish I got Famin to get an extra Buffy comic signed for him... Too bad I'm inconsiderate and didn't think about it until Saturday morning and had no way to beg and plead with Famin... Oh well, I'm a horrible friend. Next year though, Famin, you'd better remember to remind me!
Back to the scheduled program. We had an emcee and he did a wonderful song about him hitting on all the women on Serenity and why they shot him down. I'm going to try to find it because you just have to hear it. They had a DVD that Nathan made to all the screenings, but they couldn't get theirs to work, so they are going to try to get it online. I really wish they would have had it. I'd be interested to see it.
They asked if anyone hadn't seen the movie yet and there were about 4 of us, so they asked everyone to hold it down and not give anything away and I missed the VERY first part because I ran out to get the popcorn we ordered and there was NO ONE working the counter. They were in the back. When I got back, River was in school and I saw where Simon broke her out, so what did I miss Famin? I don't think it was too much.
I LOVED the movie and want to watch it again!!! I had spoiled myself on Book's death because before I told IG Simon died, I wanted to make sure I wasn't right and saw that Book died, so that death didn't shock me. When Wash died, my jaw hit the ground and I took in this deep breath. It shocked the heck out of me and made me VERY sad!!! I NEVER saw that one coming!!!
Some of my favorite parts was when Jayne got hooked by the Reivers (I was MAD they hurt my Jayne!!!) and told Mal to shoot him if they got him, then told him not to shoot too soon, when Kaylee said she wasn't going to die because Simon said he wanted her and shot a gun for the first time (that I can remember) and when the hatch opened and showed River after the fight scene. Amazing shot!
This is REALLY long, but I didn't want to leave much out of it. I'll post all the pictures I took below, plus I won't make you tilt your head!
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Jun 23, 2008 10:13 AM
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Yeay! I'm glad you posted. Cindy saw my pictures and asked me to blog about it but I'm just too worn out!!! Plus, I have to do this IMPOSSIBLE report with a ridiculous word limit (4,000 characters!!!) on projects I've never even heard of much less worked on and it all has to be submitted by Wednesday. I'm so angry and frustrated that I'm sitting here composing my letter of resignation in my head. PLUS, I still have that monster migraine from yesterday so every hour or so I have to tie my gorram hair back and go throw up in the bathroom. ARRGH! No, I'm not having a shiny day.
And I've got the fruity, oaty bar song stuck in my head.
It seems like you missed a fair bit of the beginning of the movie! You're going to have to rent it (which you'll want to do anyway to see all the special features) or buy it because your movie room isn't going to be complete without it! Plus, there are always lots of posters from Serenity and Firefly giveaways. 
Sorry about the comics--I didn't even think to ask you guys if you wanted to get anything signed! D'oh! We auctioned off the "Faith" poster and the winner paid more than $400 for it! We were very excited. We also had a second print that Jo donated that was the cover of the Better Days comic and we got a few hundred dollars for that as well.
I didn't bid on anything (no money) but I did get Jo to sign my comic (which oddly has a small scratch on the cover!!!) and she was just so, so nice. And her sons are adorable too! I will definitely pop by to see her next time she does a signing.
We had fewer giveaways than you guys did. We had the money packs and stuff last year, but this year we were scrambling to get the event together in less than a month (long story, much political stuff behind the scenes) and so we simplified everything. We gave away freebies to everyone (dinosaurs and chinese duckies and magnets and stuff like that). We also had six raffles (three each night) of which I won absolutely nothing but three of my friends won something. Friday we did the costume contest (d'oh! I dressed up on Saturday!) and I swear, the costumes up there were AMAZINGLY ACCURATE. We had Jayne, Badger, two Kaylees, Mal, YoSaffBridge, and Simon. We also had an Inara that night who refused to go up on stage, which is a crying shame because she had the EXACT outfit Inara wears in the BDM. They looked amazing.
We sold out the first night and nearly sold out the second. However, we barely sold enough tshirts to pay all the donors back, so I think next year we'll do that differently.
If you see Anne again, tell her that we had serious issues getting our DVD to work as well. In fact, at the last minute Saturday morning, our Big Damn Leader sent out a message to everyone in our group begging for technical assistance. She wanted it for Friday but after spending four hours trying to burn the DVD she had to give up, but we did get to watch it eventually. BTW, that video was a SURPRISE and we weren't supposed to talk about it on the Web until all the CSTS's had happened!
I'd write more but I'm swamped. Maybe later. I have a zillion pictures but they're all on my FB and on our group's Meetup page.
Glad you had fun! Now be sure to watch the movie properly again!
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Jun 23, 2008 10:33 AM
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Very cool! I wish I had been able to go to the one here, but it came at a bad time. Next year.
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Jun 23, 2008 10:36 AM
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One last thing...I was so paranoid that we wouldn't fill the theater that we advertised to some 20 local newspapers. We sent them press releases and we advertised the events on their own. Plus, we had flyers printed up and made everyone in our group plaster them at every bookstore, comic store, music store, and DVD store in the area, from Baltimore to Fredericksburg. And it was all over the Web as well.
Even so, I think that most people showed up because they're Browncoats and they do it every year and they know about it through other venues (like FireflyFans.Net). That's how I found out about it last year at any rate!
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Jun 23, 2008 10:48 AM
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Wash died, my jaw hit the ground and I took in this deep breath.
Well, you said you didn't want spoilers!!! We were all shocked the first time. Now that I've seen the movie several times, I notice other details. I think the part that gets me crying is first when Zoe says, "C'mon baby, get up" and of course he doesn't, and then again later when Mal asks Zoe, "Zoe, are you here?" and Zoe says, "To the job, sir." My heart just breaks. Gorram Reavers!!!
Oh and MaeMae, I thought you and Molly would especially appreciate the idea of "a world without sin."
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Jun 23, 2008 10:51 AM
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My friend didn't dress up, that's the ticket he purchased. I can get you a keychain from her. She got my e-mail and when she e-mails me, I'll tell her I need another if you'd like one. I'll ask her how much they will be, but at the event, they were $3. She taught herself to knit about 3 months ago and made several real Jayne hats and some of the keychains. I'm sure she sold out of those. They were really cool!
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Jun 23, 2008 10:57 AM
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Amber, I hope you go next year! It was SO much fun and I told the people that if they need help next year to let me know. I'd be more than happy to help.
They said next year they are going to try to do it somewhere else and have crafts too (like making your own Jayne hat or painting parasols) and that would be cool. Maybe Famin can come here next year too! Heck, everyone can come to the event here next year and I'm sure I can make some room for you to stay!
Oh and MaeMae, I thought you and Molly would especially appreciate the idea of "a world without sin."
Are you calling us gorram Reavers????
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Jun 23, 2008 11:02 AM
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You know, MaeMae, I'll bet there are loads of other Browncoats I know who'd love one too. Ask if she'd be willing to put together a bulk order! I'd understand if not, since it must take her some time to knit them and all, but if she's willing to make a little money.... Or she could sell them online as well. There are sites that make it really easy to sell stuff like that.
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Jun 23, 2008 11:03 AM
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Great blog, Mannie! I am going to have to get into this "Serenity" "Firefly" thing. My sis in law has Serenity DVD, but I don't think she's well versed in it like you guys are; she just thought it looked like it might be good. Maybe she'll let me borrow it. 
Fabulous Famin: sorry you aren't feeling well today. I pray all comes together with you report; I just finished one that has taken me about 2 weeks to complete (interruptions, calls, a high drama situation taking me off the project onto another fiasco until everything calmed down on the disaster front.)
Just stay encouraged (I know, easier said than done) but know that you can do it. I hope all goes well. Let us know how it turns out.
Everyone have a good day!
DG
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Jun 23, 2008 11:16 AM
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world without sin.
Sounds like Furleys' involuntary virginity.
Oooooops!! Did I say that out loud?
Just kidding, of course!
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Jun 23, 2008 11:18 AM
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First off - thanks for the blog and pictures. I'll write more later when I can.
Aren't the Reavers the worst villians in Sci Fi - ever. Well, IMO they are.
I love this movie and wanted to watch again this weekend but didn't. Sorry Famin.
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Jun 23, 2008 11:34 AM
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Mannie, thanks for the blog! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the movie and had a good time. And Famin is right - you'll want to rent it at the very least 'cuz the special features are awesome! Try to find the two-disc collector's edition 'cuz it has everything the original release had and then some! It's frickin' awesome!
I really hope I have the chance to go to one of these CSTS events...and go with one of you guys! I tend to be shy in situations like that (hard to believe, I know!) and would need someone with me who liked the show and movie as well. And I don't know anyone in RL who does. Maybe I'll take a trip to Memphis or the DC area next year!!
When I got back, River was in school and I saw where Simon broke her out, so what did I miss Famin? I don't think it was too much.
Hmmm...I've only seen it twice (once regular and once with one of the commentary tracks) and I actually didn't watch it this weekend. I was busy with the multitudes of other DVDs I bought recently! Anyway, as I recall it starts off with a woman doing a voiceover talking about the earth that was and how we used up its resources and had to leave it and find another galaxy or universe or whatever and terraformed planets to sustain human life. And how the Alliance was formed and brought peace and all that and about the war where the outer planets rebelled against the Alliance. It turns out the woman speaking is River's teacher and we see her in a class I assumed at the Academy. River says the outer planets refused Alliance rule because the Alliance tells people what to think and how to act. The teacher says that isn't true and then moves her hand toward River's forehead. I can't tell if she actually has something in her hand or not. Then as her hand reaches River's forehead we flash to the River we know strapped to a chair with things sticking to her face and they just stuck something into her forehead. There is a man we can't quite see at first asking questions about the girl and all and a man (doctor?) answering him about how brilliant River is and all...turns out the man asking questions is Simon posing as a Parliament person checking up on them. Then he slams this staff onto the floor while ducking and this energy field comes out of it and knocks out (kills?) everyone else in the room. Simon goes to River, unhooks her, and gets her out. Then they successfully make their escape. Have you seen from that point?
That was the best I could do from my memory! How did I do, Famin?!
Famin, I hope your day and week get better very soon!
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Jun 23, 2008 11:50 AM
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I haven't gotten into the Serenity/Firefly thing, but I'm so glad that both events went so well! It sounds like you both had a great time. It is pretty amazing that events celebrating something like this were going on all over the country at the same time. Thanks for the pictures, Mannie, and I hope you feel better, Famin.
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Jun 23, 2008 12:29 PM
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