Universal CityWalk To Become ‘SillyWalks’ For Monty Python-Inspired Charity Event
Posted by Empress Eve | November 18th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
In conjunction with Monty Python‘s 40th anniversary, Universal CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood will become “SillyWalks” tomorrow night for a live event that will attempt to set the world record for the most people ever to do “silly walks” at one time in one place.
The event, which is the first-ever SillyWalks for Hunger, will go to benefit the hunger relief organizations Feeding America, the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, and the Global FoodBanking Network. Check in for participants begins at 5:30pm, with the event is scheduled to begin promptly at 7pm, and will be broadcast worldwide across television, radio and the Internet.
“SillyWalks” derives from the classic skit from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, called “The Ministry of Silly Walks,” about a government agency dedicated to the development of new ways to walk silly. In the sketch, John Cleese played the head of the agency. (Watch the skit here below.)
Comedian and SNL alumni Jon Lovitz, who is producing the event with MashCast and choreographers Rich & Tone, will serve as the the Minister of SillyWalks for the day.
Space is limited, as only 750 pre-registered participants will be admitted into walk (so go ahead and pre-register now if you want to join in). Everyone attending is encouraged to: 1) develop their own silly walk and be ready to incorporate it into an enormous choreographed live piece (they don’t have to be trained professionals, just ready to have fun for a great cause!); 2) bring a grocery bag full of non-perishable food to donate to the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank and their cell phones to make a $5 text donation; and 3) feel free to dress in Monty Python-themed attire (though not required).
For more information, visit SillyWalks and check out the video below to learn a little bit of the choreography for the massive walk.
The mission of SillyWalks for Hunger is to raise enough awareness, food and money for 1,000,000 meals to be provided to families, children and elderly in L.A. and across the nation this holiday season. Awareness and food will be raised by the event itself, while the online effort (leveraging traditional press, MashCast community building platforms and guerilla social media tactics) promises to drive money using emergent text-to-give technology. In the case of SillyWalks, whenever a supporter texts the word “FEED” to 90999 to make a $5 donation (which they will see in their phone bill), they will be donating the equivalent of approximately 20 meals towards meeting the goal.
Thank you for your great article about the event and just you wait until you see the videos that will be coming down the stream!
Pleas continue to support the efforts of http://www.mashcast.com to raise awareness and $$$ to fight hunger by asking your readers make a small donation:
1) Text FEED to 90999 and $5.00 will be charged to their cell phones and matched by an anonymous donor (which means 70 meals will be served)
2) Give more – if you want to or more or don’t have a cell phone – go to http://www.SillyWalksforHunger.com and click on the appropriate buttons.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
In conjunction with Monty Python‘s 40th anniversary, Universal CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood will become “SillyWalks” tomorrow night for a live event that will attempt to set the world record for the most people ever to do “silly walks” at one time in one place.
