Serenity Frenzy: T-7 Days

[Insert Serenity Picture Here]

I'm a blogger. That means that I sit in my basement and type my opinions about things into a little box, hit 'PUBLISH POST' and broadcast them to the Internet. Once on the Internet, these thoughts are read by, on a good day, 167 people. Or 30 people returning 5 times each. We think it's the latter, even though the former sounds better. At any rate, that is a good 25 more readers than my 7th Grade diary.

Because I perform this mystical activity in my basement, Universal Pictures has decided that I am a member of their target audience for Serenity: The Little Movie That Could. Officially available for public consumption on 30 Sept., the movie is having a press screening on the 28th. They've invited bloggers. We've established that I am a blogger, and thus I am invited.

Here's where it gets tricky. I've never taken a journalism class in my life, unless you count being on the school paper in 7th grade. Since all I learned to do there was write a poem on 'Brotherhood' and glue small pieces of paper firmly to a larger piece of paper I don't think that counts. A few weeks ago, when Justice Sunday Strikes Back came to town, many bloggers received press passes. They apparently had donuts, got bored, fought over donuts, wrote about fighting over donuts and left. I complained, as I felt that I wished to know more about the event than the donuts. (Hang on, I'm going somewhere with this...) I was under the apparently mistaken impression that receiving a press pass to an event obligates one to write about the event. Quite the contrary. Brittney and her boyfriend assured me that is actually a violation of journalistic ethics.

You are basing this on the pretense than accepting a press pass obligates one to write extensively on the event, which just isn't true. You make it sound like the press pass is a $15 bribe in exchange for coverage. You would make a crappy journalist if that is what you believe...

Those people are not journalists, but public relations specialists. You've got a messed up sense of journalism, and your contractor metaphor reflects a misunderstanding of journalistic ethics.

Flash forward to present day. I got an email today which told me I may or may not get into the Serenity screening. In order to maximize my chances of getting into the movie, I must post the film's synopsis on my blog, get to the church on time theatre early, lock my cellphone in the glovebox and perform some masonic ritual with a rep from Universal Pictures.

I have no problem with any of this. I'm just really confused now. About Journalistic Ethics, Press Passes, Donuts and Universal Pictures. I just really want to see this movie.

Step One: Synopsis

Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy -nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena ofBUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion andwit 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, whonow ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboardhis ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thinghe has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

End Synopsis