This week I decided to do something a bit out of character for me. I’ve entered a marathon for charity. No, not a running/jogging/walking marathon. It’s actually a sit-on-my-ass-and-do-nothing marathon. The only running will be to the restroom and Icee machine between films. (Actually, the King Cat Theater probably does not have an Icee machine. Bummer.)

As some people know, films are one of the few things I’m fairly passionate about. That’s why I have a 4-at-a-time Netflix plan as well as a Netflix player. And that’s also why I am a member of SIFF – Seattle International Film Festival. They run the largest film festival in North America (or maybe just the US, I don’t know) and provide me and others the opportunity to see a lot of films we otherwise wouldn’t. They are a non-profit organization that depends a lot on volunteerism and donations.

Anyway, back to the marathon. SIFF is attempting to raise money for a new headquarters in Seattle Center. A perfect location, if you ask me. Seattle Center can be the center of culture in this fair city. We already have the ballet, a couple live theatres, Teatro Zinzanni across the street, the grounds for Bumbershoot . . . It seems only fitting that SIFF be in the middle of all of that. Plus, the SIFF theatre is located in Seattle Center already. With the money raised from this event, they will build their home in the former Alki Room.

The way the marathon works is that each “runner” must raise at least $1000 in order to attend the marathon – 24 hours of film at the King Cat Theatre. This is where the “out of character” part comes in. I do not talk to strangers.  I barely talk to people that I know. And yet, somehow I have to convince enough people to throw in a few bucks in my name so that I can sit in a chair and stare at a wall for a day.

I know that people will think that movies are not “charity”, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Our culture, our society depends on the arts to get us through, to take us to the next era. When times are tough, we need cinema and other media to lighten our hearts and lighten the load. And in the future, just like the past, people may not read history books, but they’ll study the art we leave behind, and they’ll know who we were, who we are. Film is part of our immortality. And however frivolous it may seem, I truly believe I’m supporting a good cause. I only hope I can convince enough people, in my oh-so-antisocial way, to agree with me.

As of today I’m a third of the way to my goal. Fingers crossed I’ll make it to my goal, and beyond.