A Hollywood-budget, American-made television public service announcement to discourage suicide bombings in Iraq is currently in production. The 60-second spot will air on Iraqi TV this summer:
There was an air of paranoia on the set last month even though the press were initially invited down to cover the 3-day shoot. Reporters and cameramen were banished to the perimeters of the scene and were kept in check by several crew members. They were also asked not to speak to the actors, extras or any of the Lebanese production team. Despite all the secrecy surrounding the project, NEWSWEEK has learned that the high-tech PSA will cost over $1 million to make and may even air in other Middle Eastern countries. This pricey and unorthodox attempt to subdue the violence is backed by a group of mystery donors. “I call them an independent, non-governmental group of scholars, non political people,” says Plotkin. “Some may live in Iraq, some may live abroad. For a variety of different reasons–from safety concerns to wanting the focus to remain on the issue itself, they decided to remain anonymous.”
Link. Image: David Frucht/Newsweek. (thanks, John Kinsella)