It's been a while since the SAW franchise's iconic blood drive has come to town. In fact, not since the 2010 release of SAW 3D: THE FINAL CHAPTER has Lionstgate established the famous pop-up event. Now, with JIGSAW preparing to treat theatergoers to another enchanted evening of torture, tension and terror on October 27th, the series is once again out for blood.
This time around, the Jigsaw Halloween Blood Drive is doing more than just taking blood from generous fans, they're also taking a stand against America’s blood-donation regulations that don't allow gay men to contribute. When giving a statement about the event, the studio's chief brand officer, Tim Palen, proceeded to roll out the fim's online campaign called "All Types Welcome." As a part of the promotion, the artwork features eight social media stars with large gay, bisexual and transgender fan bases — including Shaun Ross, an openly gay model, and Amanda Lepore, the transgender night life diva. You can check out the slick, striking and overtly-sensual artwork for the event below:
The blood drive itself will begin on October 5th in New York and will expand to a total of 25 cities throughout the coming weeks. For more details about the event, you can check out JigsawSaves.com.
The Saw-inspired blood drive event was first established in 2004 as a way of generating buzz for the original film. By 2009, the quirky, time-sensitive promotion resulted in over 120,000 pints of the sweet, red nectar being donated – thanks in no small part to the efforts of Palen and his team.
In regard tot he rules and regulations concerning blood donation in the United States, Jodi D. Sheedy, a Red Cross spokeswoman, recently stated that “The Red Cross believes all potential blood donors should be treated with fairness, equality and respect. Accurate donor histories and medically supported donor deferral criteria are critical."
"Now we have different races, genders, ages and sexual orientations," says Mr. Palen. It's a fair point to be sure. Don't forget to check out JigsawSaves.com to discover when the nurses will be headed to your city. Donating blood helps you make difference in someone's life, and I'm certain that with so many disasters happening all around the world right now, a pint or two of blood would undoubtedly go a long way.
JIGSAW, starring Tobin Bell, Lauren Vandervoort, Brittany Allen, Callum Keith Rennie, Matt Passmore and Hannah Emily Anderson will arrive in theaters on October 27th.