The Brown Coats are coming

This weekend, science fiction fans have the opportunity to look 500 years into the future with a renegade crew aboard a space ship exploring unknown corners of the galaxy, and aid charity at the same time. \nOn Saturday, June 24 at 1 p.m. the Serenity Now, Equality Now charity event features a screening of the film "Serenity" in addition to film-related games at the Monroe County Public Library. Proceeds from the event will go to Equality Now, a group dedicated to protecting women's rights worldwide. \n"Serenity" is a film based on the television series "Firefly" created by Joss Whedon, who is also known as the man behind "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel." The movie is named after the spacecraft of the crew in the series.\nIU graduate student Michelle Bolin got a few Serenity fans together to plan the screening in Bloomington when she heard about the international "Brown Coat" charity event. "Firefly" fans are referred to as "Brown Coats," named after the rebel space travelers that the series chronicles.\n"It's just a name for the fans, like 'Trekkies' for 'Star Trek,'" Bolin said.\nAlong with the movie screening, the event features a mixer with games such as "Firefly" trivia, "Firefly"-based card games and a costume contest. \n"A lot of people have characters they like to dress up as," Bolin said.\nThe event's soundtrack will include songs about "Firefly" in a genre of music known as filk, the marriage of science fiction and folk music.\nTickets to the event can only be purchased online at \nhttp://www.cantstoptheserenity.com, as $10 donations to Equality Now, which was chosen for being Whedon's favorite charity.\n"We paid for some things out of pocket so all of the money we raise can go straight to the charity," Bolin said. "We're hoping that people will be generous."\n"Firefly" has a devoted following, but its fans are described as disenfranchised because the show, aired on Fox, was canceled after only 11 episodes.\nIU graduate student, and "Firefly" fan, Jennifer Atkins said she thinks the show and its follow-up movie have such a strong following because the show was canceled in its infancy. She also credits devotion to the show's creator.\n"I think they have such a devoted fan following because Joss Whedon has such a huge fan following," Atkins said.\nThe show's popularity was clear from the success of its DVD sales, which encouraged the making of the film "Serenity," produced by Universal Studios and released last year.\n"I think the fans believed that if they supported it enough, they would bring back the show or make the movie, which they did," Atkins said.\nIU graduate student Joshua Maze said he's a fan of "Firefly" because he fell in love with the characters.\n"They feel like real people," Maze said.\nMaze, like many other fans, holds onto the hope that "Firefly's" storyline will continue in some form; from the continuation of the series, the creation of more movies, novels or even comic books.\n"I'm not really a comic book fan, but if that's what it takes, then I'll be there," Maze said. "Those characters are so close to us that we just want the story to continue so they can live a little while longer."\nBolin hopes Serenity Now, Equality Now will raise awareness about the charity. Equality Now works with national human rights organizations and individuals to document cases of violence and discrimination against women and tries to stop these abuses by raising public awareness of crimes and injustices against women. \nBloomington is one of 40 cities in five countries screening the movie to raise money for Equality Now and generate demand for more content. \n"We're also a little bit selfish," Bolin said. "We want more 'Firefly.' We want there to be a sequel to the movie Serenity."\nAlong with gathering support for the TV series and movie, Bolin said the event will give Firefly fans a chance to meet each other and spark interest in the show with people who are new to the series.\n"Even if you've never seen 'Firefly' before, you definitely want to come," Bolin said. "We're just trying to meet some people and have some fun"