CHAT THE PLANET'S INNOVATIVE DOCUMENTARY WEB SERIES OFFERS AN INTIMATE LOOK AT ORDINARY IRAQIS AND THE STRUGGLES THEY FACE
New York, NY (March 19, 2007) -- CHAT THE PLANET announced today that its documentary web series HOMETOWN BAGHDAD will premier on
SALON.COM on Monday, March 19th, the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. The series will then launch across multiple digital platforms in the following days, including mtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network. This groundbreaking series, shot entirely by Iraqis who want to share their stories with America and the West, offers viewers an unprecedented and extraordinary look into the homes and lives of regular Iraqis. The everyday life of the Iraqi citizen has been the great untold story of the Iraq war. That is about to change.
"Hometown Baghdad", which is comprised of approximately 35 "webisodes" that range from one to three minutes long, tells the stories of three young Iraqis who are struggling to survive in the most dangerous city in the world. Saif is a 23-year-old recent college grad with dreams of becoming a dentist. Adel is an aspiring rock musician whose hopes of forming a band are continually dashed by the violence and tragedy surrounding him. And Ausama is a 20-year-old med student whose family is repeatedly threatened and endangered by both American and insurgent forces.
The people profiled in 'Hometown Baghdad' are not the usual figures that dominate the media's coverage of the Iraq war: the politicians, the troops, the insurgents or the religious fanatics. They are young, smart ambitious Iraqis struggling with everyday concerns in the middle of a deadly war.
Chat the Planet will debut the first three web videos of "Hometown Baghdad" on March 19th on Salon.com, which will host the series on a special landing page on the site. The rest of the webisodes will roll out 3 times a week through the end of May, 2007. After a short period of exclusivity on Salon.com, Chat the Planet will spread these easily distributable videos to as many outlets as possible in order to maximize global viewership. The series will be available on mtvU, broadcast via satellite to 750 college and universities, as well as mtvU.com and mtvU mobile; Youtube.com; other video web sites; and the series' own website, HometownBaghdad.com, which will also feature stories and other exclusive content from the Iraqi and American producers about the production. The series will also be featured on Chat the Planet’s channel on Joost. Joost, which is currently in a limited beta release, combines the best of full-screen television entertainment with online interactive and community benefits.
For the past year, Chat the Planet has been co-producing "Hometown Baghdad" with a group of Iraqi filmmakers in Baghdad. The team was led by renowned directors and producers Ziad Turkey and Fady Hadid
"An American production company working with Iraqi filmmakers on a project like this really shows the power of collaboration," says Laurie Meadoff, an executive producer of Chat the Planet. "Working with Ziad, Fady, and their incredible crew has been one of the most rewarding and terrifying experiences of my life." Kate Hillis, another executive producer, adds "The word 'dedication' takes on a new meaning when you meet these Iraqis. They are dedicated to life, a normal life, in a not normal world.
"Of all the important documentaries that have focused on the Iraq war, nothing has been quite like 'Hometown Baghdad," said Joan Walsh, Editor-in-Chief of
Salon.com . "These are Iraqis that Americans will instantly recognize and relate to, and they bring the situation in Iraq home in a way we've never seen before. We're thrilled to be able to host such an important series, and think this is the perfect medium for it.”
"There were times during the filming when we thought we might be killed," says Iraqi co-producer Fady Hadid. "Shooting with a crew on the streets of Baghdad is incredibly risky, but we believe that this project is important and that this story must be told.”
"Chat the Planet's 'Hometown Baghdad' realizes the potential of digital media to let people share stories and break down cultural barriers across the world," says Sheryl Leach, creator of Barney and co-founder of Sheri-rah Foundation, one of Chat the Planet's principle funders. "It's an honor to be involved in such a vital project." "Hometown Baghdad" was also made possible by funding from Cinereach.
About Chat The PlanetChat the Planet is a global youth dialogue company. We connect young people from around the world to talk about everything from politics, prejudices and war to sex, music and life in general. Chat the Planet produces television and web video that is authentic, unscripted and unlike anything else in the mainstream media. In late 2007, we are launching an innovative internet platform that will transform the way people engage globally. It will transcend both cultural differences and long distances. Founded by celebrated media executives Laurie Meadoff and Kate Hillis in 2001, Chat the Planet has produced award-winning video, internet, and radio programming that continues to reach millions of people around the world.
About Salon Media Group, Inc.Since 1995, Salon has published original, independent reporting and commentary on news and culture. Several times each day, Salon releases new stories covering News and Politics, Opinion, Technology & Business, Arts & Entertainment, Books, Life and Comics. Salon's staff blogs track the latest developments in politics (Glenn Greenwald’s Unclaimed Territory, The War Room, Daou Report), feminism (Broadsheet) and globalization (How The World Works). Multimedia features include a special video section (Video Dog) and a music blog that features the Web's best free downloads (Audiofile). Salon also operates Table Talk, free-form discussion forums in addition to The WELL, a members-only online community founded in 1985. Headquartered in San Francisco, Salon has offices in New York and Washington, D.C.
www.salon.com About mtvUBroadcasting to 750 colleges across the country, with a combined enrollment of over 7.2 million, mtvU is the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the U.S. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are, through a three pronged approach – on-air, online and on campus. mtvU focuses on content including music videos from emerging artists which can’t be seen anywhere else, news, student life features, events and pro-social initiatives. mtvU is always on campus, with more than 500 events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and for a complete programming schedule, visit
www.mtvU.com 
