MTV LatAM begins production Popland.

MTV Latin America announced the start of production of POPLAND, the network’s second undertaking in the telenovela format, and the first 100% MTV Latin America produced scripted series starring Latin American and US talent. The announcement was made today by Fernando Gaston, Senior Vice President of Content, Creative and Music, MTV Networks Latin America.

The entire production will be shot on-set and on location in Colombia and features both established and emerging talent from Latin America and the US, including Sara Cobo (Mexico), Jon Ecker (U.S.), Ricardo Abarca (Mexico) and Manuela Gonzalez (Colombia), amongst others. POPLAND will premiere pan-regionally on MTV Latin America in the Fall of 2011 and will also air on Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas in the U.S.; MTV Spain and MTV Italy (exact dates to be announced). The series includes 70, 1-hour episodes shot in High Definition.

“We are thrilled to start production of our second novela,” commented Gaston. “After the incredible success of Niñas Mal, we decided to give our audience more of this genre bringing them a fresh new story in the same cutting edge style MTV is known for. We have an amazing cast onboard and are certain that POPLAND will captivate viewers throughout Latin America, the US and Europe.”

Written by Argentinean script writers Marcelo Camaño (Vidas Robadas, El Capo, Montecristo) and Claudia Bono (Niñas Mal; teen comedy, Enséñame a Vivir), POPLAND is a story of one girl’s journey, from humble small town life, to the star-studded big city world of celebrities, parties, and the love affair that rocks her world forever.

“MTVNLA is committed to providing its audience fresh, innovative, cutting edge content,” commented JC Acosta, SVP, CFO and Executive in Charge of Production. “This latest undertaking demonstrates our expertise as a content producer and how perfectly positioned we are to continue expanding and producing hit properties that are locally and internationally appealing.”

The series, which will be produced using the latest high definition technology, gives a look into the world of celebrity through the lens of aspiring photographer, Carla. Raised in a small town, Carla is an intelligent, loyal, charismatic and ambitious 18-year-old who dreams big and achieves bigger. She launches herself into the big city and shortly lands the job of a lifetime as a paparazzi for a popular celebrity gossip website, POPLAND. Carla soon learns that VIP access and exclusive shots come at a price. Although the competitive world of paparazzis puts Carla’s career on thin ice, her persistence and determination never let her down.

POPLAND will be distributed by MTV Networks International Program Sales (IPS).