Most people run a 5k, a half marathon, even a full marathon, to get you to open your pocketbooks. I'm abandoning my wife and children to sit on the couch, bleary-eyed and exhausted, watching movie after movie after movie. But it's fitting, because I'm raising money for the greatest double feature film series the world has ever seen (I'm mildly biased).

Your donation supports a non-profit film program that's funded almost entirely by donations like yours. Here's all the information you could want on the Retrofantasma Film Series at the Carolina Theatre of Durham. All of the funds donated are going directly to this specific program to keep its lights on for another year.

I know you probably don't live near it, so why should you care? Because I made this hard enough on myself to justify your donation: This Saturday, January 20th, I'm going to wake up at 4:30 am CT to watch 12 full-length films in a row, within 24 hours, without any sleep or distractions. Which is saying something now that I have two children under the age of 3 (thank you, wife).

When you wake up, I'll be watching movies, when you go out on the town all day and come home to watch some TV, I'll still be here, watching movies. When you brush your teeth and go to bed, I'll be here, watching movies. When it's after midnight and you're cuddled under the covers, dreaming your wonderful dreams I'll still be here, watching movies. You can sleep well knowing I'm standing sentinel, my face alight with the glow of my television screen well into early Sunday morning. I'm putting my life on hold, ignoring my wife and children, all for THIS.

I hope you're willing to reward my dedication (this is the 9th annual!) with a donation.

Like the best mix tapes, the list this year is eclectic, based on length, tempo, atmosphere, and how well it will keep me awake:

Venom, Panic Room, Dazed and Confused, Warcraft, Nimona, My Cousin Vinny, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Speed, A Haunting In Venice, Spiderman Across the Spiderverse, and then the final two will be chosen by the top two donors.

Thank you for your help!