MTV Documentary: Young People Living with Herpes
Posted on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 1:47 PM
I apologize for the seemingly random contact, but I got your information from your organization and thought that you may be interested in and able to help me with a project that I am working on. I’m an Associate Producer with MTV Networks and am currently working on a documentary following young people who are suffering from herpes.
You may or may not be familiar with MTV’s True Life — it’s a long-running, award winning documentary series that seeks to have young people share their stories, in their own words. The format is strictly first person, which is to say that we don’t filter the voices of our subjects through narrators or any similar third parties. All we do is follow them; it’s our hope that by allowing these people to use their own voices to tell their stories, and communicating directly with their peers, we can impact the way people interact and engage with the world they live in.
One of the themes we’re currently exploring for this particular episode is what it is like to be a young person living with herpes. We are interested in finding people who are currently seeking treatments and are learning more about their condition each day. We realize that a number of young people are suffering from herpes and we would like to offer them the opportunity to tell their story in a documentary setting.
If this sounds like something that you might consider, I’d love to give you more information about this project — and if you know of anyone else it might be beneficial to contact, please do let us know. Our episodes can be viewed online at mtv.com. I can be reached via email at kristen.chalos(AT)mtvnmix(DOT)com or by phone at (212) 846-8850.
Angela this is fantastic! I think it’s a great idea for MTV to do this. What I would also like to see MTV do is interview some “older” younger people (think: celebrities in their late twenties or early thirties) that have successfully lived with herpes for many years. I find that it is the fear of the future and not being able to find a lover, or have children that scares people when they are first diagnosed. Have a great weekend.
(I am working on my H-Pal post)
xo
Many people watch MTV, especially young teens and young adults. This is great place to reach out to them and let them know what herpes is really like. It might even be interesting to let them know that very successful famous people are living with herpes today.
What I don’t understand is when people always freak out over herpes but anything else it’s like, “no big deal” because you can cure it.
MTV do a good job and make this True Life. Make it educational but make it to the point that people can not be so negative of the contracted virus.
I know tons of people that are living with herpes, just people never talk about it. Which leaves it with a negative name and reputation.
1 in ever 3 people have herpes.
-Joy
Hi Joy – There are so many people in the herpes community that continue to aid and abed in the negative stigma associated with this virus. I think the most negativity comes from people that want to hide their whole entire life in fear of who will find out. It’s ridiculous. (I am not referring to newbies. I am referring to people that have had this virus for years, who are supposed to be grown ups and set positive examples but don’t.)
Angela,
I think you’re absolutely right, people that are immature make this virus seem like it’s a lot worse than it really is. There are ways around outbreaks and ways to “stop” an outbreak before it starts. You can even have unprotected sex with someone that has the virus as long as they aren’t in an outbreak!
Basically what I’m getting at is, even though herpes isn’t able to be cured once you have it, there are ways to never have herpes outbreaks again.
Every single person I know with herpes is a beautiful person inside and out. It’s just a virus. People need to get educated and learn rather than put it down and act like they are better than the virus.
…I mean it does make a person look pretty stupid when they try to joke about herpes or any other STD’s. But we can’t change everybody.
-Joy
Herpes jokes do not offend me. I’m a huge fan of comedy central, south park, and others. If we can’t set life aside and laugh at ourselves once in awhile then we have problems that go way deeper than just having herpes. :]
Angela you’re a great role model for those living with shame.
Thanks for the positive words.
It’s people like you who are making a difference in lives. Keep it up! :]
-Joy
Thanks so much Joy! I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. :]
Herpes jokes don’t offend me either – especially if they are funny! I actually have a herpes cartoon as a permanent fixture on my herpes blog. I do however worry about how ignorance can affect those who are really struggling. For her terms of use policy in one of my favorite (non-STD) blogs her final statement is: Stealing gives you herpes. Could sort of be funny but I’m not sure she would have said that if she or someone she loved had herpes. Or maybe she does – I could be being too sensitive.
Many times people are able to laugh at themselves so maybe she has herpes?
Yes – you could be right!
Then it would be quite funny.
Don’t think under the circumstances of trying to provide herpes support to the newly diagnosed, I will be adding the joke to my own blog though… Thanks Angela.
You are Welcome Nanci! We should trade links. I will add you to my blogroll.
Angela,
I’ve read through a few posts on your blog and think you’re doing a great job supporting & informing the world about herpes.
We at getSTDtested.com are in full support. Keep up the great work!
-Ben & The getSTDtested Team
Hi Ben! Thank you so much for the encouragement! Here’s to 2010! :)