New Dramatic Children's Television Series in Macedonia

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Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:16:48 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: New Dramatic Children's Television Series in Macedonia 

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Dramatic Children's Television Series in Macedonia 



Press Release

Children's Television Workshop and Common Ground Products Launch New
Dramatic Children's Television Series in Macedonia 

(Cannes, France, October 5, 1999) Children's Television Workshop (CTW)
and Common Ground Productions (CGP) have co-produced a dramatic new
Macedonian series, Nashe Maalo (Our Neighborhood), targeted to
children ages 7-12 and focused on conflict resolution and
intercultural understanding.  This announcement was made by Steve
Miller, Group Vice President, International Television and Licensing,
CTW, and Sheldon Himelfarb, Chief Executive Officer, CGP.

Debuting October 17th and broadcast weekly on Macedonia's A1 at
6:00pm, Nashe Maalo is a half hour program that follows the lives of
five different children from four different ethnicities -- Macedonian,
Albanian, Turkish and Romani.  This disparate group of kids comes
together because they all share one secret:  the building they live in
is alive!  Wise and witty, her name is Karmen and she appears to them
through an old television set in their basement.

In addition to being the kids' confidante and friend, Karmen possesses
one special power:  she can invisibly transport them into other
places, other homes.  These scenes -- one in every episode -- open the
eyes of our characters to other people's ways of thinking and living. 
Each episode of Nashe Maalo tracks the daily adventures of the five
children as they slowly come to accept and embrace each other.

The series is shot primarily in the Macedonian language.  However, to
accurately reflect the multi-lingual environment of the country,
scenes also take place in Albanian, Turkish and Romani.

"The motivating idea behind Nashe Maalo was to create a series that
would help demystify the cultural stereotypes children have before
they become set in stone," said Miller.  "But we also believe that
these stories transcend Macedonia's borders because they are
fundamentally about how kids cope inside of a society of ethnic
mistrust.  And what country doesn't have that problem?"

"This project was completed while war was raging fifty miles away in
Kosovo and thousands of Albanian refugees were streaming into
Macedonia," said Himelfarb.  "Through it all, the Macedonian team
persevered and turned out a moving series of stories featuring five
wonderfully spirited children."


Curriculum goals include discovering elements of a common culture and
heritage; discovering unique elements of each culture; recognizing and
rejecting stereotypes; and resisting negative social pressure.  The
entire production, including the writing, directing and editing, was
staffed in Macedonia.

Nashe Maalo is funded and supported by the British Department for
International Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Netherlands, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, John D.
and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the united States
Agency for International Development.

Children's Television Workshop (CTW) is a not-for-profit company using
media to educate and engage children and families worldwide.  Its
expertise encompasses television, online, CD-ROM, print, product
licensing, publishing, film, and community outreach.  Best known as
the creators of Sesame Streest - now in its 30th season on PBS -
Children's Television Workshop programming has been enjoyed in more
than 140 countries, including 20 indigenous co-productions reflecting
local languages, customs, and educational needs.  Children's
Television Workshop and Nickelodeon recently launched NOGGIN, an
educational cable network for children. 
CTW Online: www.ctw.org.

Common Ground Productions (CGP) is a world leader in creating
innovative television, radio, and Internet programming for the
reduction or prevention of conflict.  Programs produced by Common
Ground Productions show that contentious issues can be examined in
ways that inform and entertain, while still promoting the search for
solutions.  Whether countering hate radio in Africa or hate crime in
the United States, Common Ground Productions is dedicated to
harnessing the power of the media for peace and progress. Common
Ground Productions is the media arm of Search for Common Ground and
the European Centre for Common Ground. 
CGP Online: www.cgponline.org.

Visit Nashe Maalo Online at: www.cgponline.org.

Contacts:

Lisa Shochat, CGP
(202) 265-4300
[email protected]

Beatrice Chow, CTW
(212) 875-6586
[email protected]

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