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View Full Version : PLEASE READ!! FARS, Gag Orders and You: A Scaper’s Guide to Spreading FS


RescueFarscape
05-15-2003, 08:44 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, newbies and seasoned vets, hello! :hi:I’m assuming if you are still here with the rest of us at WatchFarscape, then you are in this campaign for the long run.

I know many of us have reached the limit of our ability to gain viewers; we’ve scaped every friend, acquaintance, family member and stranger; sometimes subjected to rolled eyes, groans, slapped with gag orders, restraining orders, and silly little you-should-be-working-not-discussing-Farscape discussions with your boss (and if not, get busy!).

However, the uber-amazing Twich and Mickie and Jul have solved the dilemma of finding new viewers by introducing the Save Farscape Library Projects (domestic and military). Or, as I like to call them, ‘The Best Way To Spread FARS* While Sitting On Your Eema’ Projects. :ewink:

The bare bones of the projects is this: stocking public and military libraries with Farscape DVDs and season companions or other books. Monetary donations are being taken via PayPal to the Special Projects Fund.

http://www.watchfarscape.com/news/article.php?newsid=330

At this time, however, the SPF cannot accept credit card donations. Mickie is offering her PayPal account to take those donations. They can be sent to mickie66er@yahoo.com.

Direct DVD contributions to the military project may be sent here:

Watch Farscape
PO Box 279
Cookstown NJ, 08511

If you wish to donate DVDs to the civilian library project, please email Mickie at mickie@watchfarscape.com.

You don’t have to give a lot. Even those couple of dollars you can spare could mean the difference between the projects getting that last FS DVD, or letting some library go empty-handed.

The library and military projects may not be as glamorous or exciting as the Variety cover ad or the USA Today ad or even gift baskets to Henson! But these have something that those lovely ads didn’t: longevity. Our goal, almost from the beginning, is to FIND NEW VIEWERS. We’ve been gifted the opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of potential viewers! Years from now, people will still be able to benefit from these projects, still be able to pick Farscape up at their libraries, whether public or military. Even if they merely see the title ‘Farscape’, that name will be in their mind, and, should Farscape get a S5 or big-screen movie, that person will recognize the name, perhaps move them to watch when they wouldn’t before. Ah, subversiveness! Ain’t it grand?


An update from Twich:

Hey all...

I just wanted to let you know that I spoke with our military contact today and told him that things are definitely moving forward. Since he hadn't heard from me in a while, I didn't want him to think we had forgotten or lost touch.

He was very excited and said that he had actually seen Farscape mentioned in the Henson news and he wondered if that meant things would go better for us. I told him that it definitely raised our hopes..and his response? "Well, it raises our hopes too. We're looking forward to this Farscape project in a big way and can't wait to start delivering to all everyone here. In fact, we've been talking about it a lot around here...even more so since the Henson news. We just can't wait."

So..we're being talked about..and they are looking forward to it...so let's show them what Scapers are made of!



If you haven’t been able to read up on the various threads, librarians across the US and members of the military are ASKING FOR FARSCAPE. They WANT Farscape. They NEED Farscape. Let’s not disappoint them!

Here are the thread discussions:
Military: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9860

Public: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9263

*(A full description of Farscape Addictive Repetitive Syndrome (FARS) may be found here: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8951 If you find you suffer from any or all of these symptoms, don't despair! You're in good company;) )

grapeshot
05-15-2003, 09:33 PM
Amen. We seem to be able to raise money for gift baskets in no time flat, yet when we have a real opportunity to INCREASE Farscape's audience, we seem to have reached a plateau in giving. Remember, the military audience is a relatively CAPTIVE one. Sooner or later, all people on the bases will watch Farscape, simply because their choices are limited. We are doing those people a REAL service by not only giving them something to do in their off-duty hours, but giving them the gift of the BEST DAMNED ENTERTAINMENT OF ALL, PERIOD.

And, if you're thinking that putting Farscape in libraries around the nation is somehow a waste of money, because most people rent their DVDs, think again. Many people who live on tight budgets and limited income rely on their local libraries for entertainment. Even people who are otherwise relatively well-off use their libraries for the DVD viewing. (After all, you can't beat "free" rentals!)

There have been several threads proposing how to legally make Farscape episodes available to people for free. Well, here are a couple of legal methods. So let's get some DVDs in front of the public!

I don't mean to be-little the gift baskets. Those efforts are also very important, and I'm proud of all 'Scapers who have helped with either money or time. Just remember that more still needs to be done!

harveywhispers
05-16-2003, 01:13 AM
Growing up an Army "brat", I can guarantee that these soldiers will gratefully accept this little bit of entertainment (Base life can be sooooooo mind numbing). However, beyond each soldier that we reach, we must keep in mind each subsequent person that they may introduce to Farscape. Just imagine the possible chain reaction.

SabaceanBabe
05-16-2003, 05:45 AM
Does anyone have a full accounting of what's been donated so far to each project? Not just monetarily, but also in product? As has been said, it isn't as glamorous as the gift basket stuff and therefore not as high-profile, but I know I have given just as much to the military project as I have to the baskets...

I have several friends who are still over in the sandbox right now, and they are sci fi geeks, so this is just one of the best ideas ever. I plan on giving more to both the military and the library funds, just as soon as I find out how much I have left after paying the bills. Darn bills. :P

And I just have to say it again: I am proud to be a Scaper. :aok:

Twich
05-16-2003, 06:05 AM
The product I currently have in hand is:

2 Premiere/I ET DVDS
1 BOS1
1 Nerve/Hidden Memory
1 TTLG/ABL
1 Uncharted Territory Book
1 Illustrated Companion from Season 1
1 Illustrated Companion from Season 2


And the last monetary update we had from Jul (just a few days ago) was $135.


Edited to say THANK YOU for helping to spread the word on this.

RescueFarscape
05-16-2003, 06:42 AM
First post edited to add credit card donation info;)

Dominar of Action
05-16-2003, 07:09 AM
The Best Way To Spread FARS* While Sitting On Your Eema’ Projects:rollin: Thank you, RescueFarscape!! GREAT POST! I've contributed to both projects and will do so again next month, but to be successful we need more than a dozen or so people participating :eek: We've got almost 3800 people registered here, for goodness sakes!

I know not everyone can spare $5 to help financially, and that's perfectly OK, but they can help by spreading the word to other mailing lists and BBs. :)

mycattoldme
05-16-2003, 09:04 AM
You know I have my old VCR tapes - can I donate those or are you looking for only DVDs?

Chaym
05-16-2003, 09:19 AM
Twich, do you need/want anything else aside from Farscape related stuff?

I've got my DVD ready and waiting, but also have some new or like new Star Trek books. A dollar store I visited last week had hard covers of ST:Insurection for yes, a dollar so I picked one up just for the military folks.

I've also got toiletries to spare, some in little bottles.

If you need these as well, I'll box 'em all up and put them in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks :D

~Chaym

NYPinTA
05-16-2003, 09:44 AM
I just wanted to say that I think this project is probably my favorite so far.
I like writting letters because it makes me feel like I am actually contributing and the Brascape was a lot of fun, and I do get excited over gift baskets, singing telegrams, and ice cream because it keeps the name of Farscape on the tips of the tongue of the powers that be, but this has everything. A captive audience, a demonstration of Scaper love and generosity, and Twich on the phone! :D What more could you want in a campaign strategy?
Maybe the $ totals will go up when more people see Mickie's offer to forward credit card paypal donations....

Dominar of Action
05-16-2003, 10:49 AM
Mycattoldme - not to speak for Twich or Mickie, but I know some libraries (like my local system) only accept the VHS tapes, so you could always donate them for that purpose. (Seems some libraries are not really set up yet to handle the security on DVDs, or some such ::shrug:: )

Mickie
05-16-2003, 04:36 PM
I hope to get a more comprehensive report posted tomorrow, but as of right now:

monitary donations stand at $393.77
material donations are:

Boston Public Library (MA): the first 12 episodes on tape tape, AHR/Durka Returns, BTBW/Family on Tape and the Nerve/AHM on DVD.
Middle Country Public Library(NY): BOS1 + 4 addition season 1 eps + 4 Season 2 episodes
Oakland Public Library (CA) – VHS through 2.3
Torrance County Library(CA) Season1 Box Set
Torrance County Library(CA) DVD 2.5
Butte County Library (CA) – Best of Season 1 DVD
Fayette County Library (KY)– Best of Season 1 DVD
East Central Region Library (MN) – BOS1 DVD
Selco Library System (MN) Premier/I-ET, TGIF/BBBF DVD
Massaqequa Public Library (NY) Season 1 on DVD & VHS
Milwaukee Public Library (WI) 3 copies of Season 1 on DVD
West Florida Regional Library (Pensicola) 2 copies of BOS1
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Cleveland, OH) First four episodes

Twich
05-16-2003, 06:24 PM
Scape_Sister has asked me to post this here. She found a PHENOMENAL deal on Premiere DVD's. UNDER 3$!!!!!

http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.c...=1877&meta_id=3

That's the link.

And if you have tapes, feel free to donate them to either project. I'm sure that as long as they are in pretty good condition, they will work well for either.

Thanks everyone...I really appreciate all of the support on this project.

RescueFarscape
05-16-2003, 07:10 PM
:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Yay! The front page! Thanks! These projects have super-tremendous potential in spreading FS!
(i am SO excited about these!)
:joy::joy::joy::joy::joy:

And bump;)