SBS Australia to broadcast IA

For Immediate Release – March 26, 2006

(Toronto) Following on the heels of Open Door’s sale of documentary INDEPENDENT AMERICA: THE TWO LANE SEARCH FOR MOM & POP (80’ and 52” versions) to NHK in Japan, comes another deal, with the same film being acquired for broadcast by Australia’s SBS network. It will be a prime time premiere in the fall of 2006.

INDEPENDENT AMERICA is a co-production between Toronto’s Open Door Co., and Kelowna B.C.’s HRH Media. The film follows Hanson Hosein (Emmy Award winner and former NBC News foreign correspondent) and his wife, journalist Heather Hughes (NBC, CNN among others) as they hit the road and travel 21,000 kilometers through 32 U.S. states in search of "Independent America."  And they do it all by abiding by two simple rules of the road:

1) No interstates: They can only travel on secondary highways and country roads.

2) They can only do business with Mom & Pop. No McDonald's. No Best Westerns. No Wal-Marts.

INDEPENDENT AMERICA uncovers a growing discontent and militancy in Americans against big corporate America. Their winding route through the heartland makes stops at several cities and towns where open battles against big box retail have split communities. They also uncover a growing movement on all sides of the political spectrum toward "local" economies. The filmmakers speak to economists, activists, political leaders, union members, entrepreneurs, and concerned Americans from all walks of life. They also have a frank conversation with a top executive from the planet’s retail overlord, Wal-Mart, who says there's still a place for independent business.

“This sale is a testament to the international appeal of the films’ major themes – particularly the growing worldwide backlash against big corporate America. We look forward to rolling out the film to several other territories in the near future beginning at MIPDOC and are extremely pleased that SBS has acquired our film,” says Open Door’s Producer, Tom Powers.

“Independent America will resonate with SBS viewers who are more than aware of the impact of globalisation on their local economies. Most of us now shop in malls filled with international brands. Independent America reminds us of the economic, social and cultural benefits locally run stores can bring to our communities.” Says Jane Roscoe, SBS’s Acquisition Executive.

INDEPENDENT AMERICA is a film that encourages citizens in all industrialized countries to think hard about how they spend their money.  And it will offer others a rare view of a complex nation at loggerheads with the free market it so proudly mastered.

Shot in widescreen HD, the film was financed entirely by the producers and is currently on an extensive screening tour of the United States. It is available for purchase at www.independentamerica.net.

About Open Door

Launched in 2005, by veteran entertainment executive Tom Powers, Toronto based Open Door is in the business of producing, acquiring, distributing and investing in Content That Matters, across all media platforms (www.opendoorco.com).

About HRH Media

Based in Kelowna British Columbia, HRH Media is an independent production company headed by Emmy Award winner and NBC foreign correspondent, Hanson Hosein and his partner, major network news journalist Heather Hughes (NBC, CNN). Independent America is their first feature documentary. (www.hrhmedia.com).

About SBS

 The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is Australia's multicultural and multilingual public broadcaster. It is watched by more than seven million Australians each week. What they see is a unique mix of Australian-produced and international programs drawn from over 400 national and international sources.

More info, to request a screener or set up an interview:

Ingrid Hamilton – ingrid@gat.ca - h/o: 1-416-482-6142 - cell: 1-416-731-3034

Pictures are available for download at www.gat.ca/media - login: username/password = media

Tom Powers, Executive Producer – 1-647-288-2853; tpowers@opendoorco.com

www.opendoorco.com (for trailer)