Daily Surf Report: Freedom for Journalists, Abdul Aug 5, 200911:27 PDT

Wednesday, August 5, 2009.

Current TV journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling are home with their families this morning, while violence reignites in Iran during President Ahmadinejad’s inauguration. Paula Abdul says For Never Your Girl to Idol, and a young director shows how you can get a distribution deal at Cannes for a movie that cost $70 to make. This is your Daily Surf Report, using the best videos on the web to keep you abreast of the day’s top stories.

Imprisoned Journalists Return Safely

Former President Bill Clinton headed to North Korea with a mission: secure the release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who had been sentenced by the court of North Korean President Kim Jong Il to twelve years hard labor for crossing the North Korean border. Hours later, Clinton and the two Current TV reporters boarded a plane en route for Los Angeles.

Lee and Ling returned safely home to relieved and grateful family members late last evening. In this video, Current TV welcomes the two home:

Protests Erupt as Ahmadinejad Sworn In

Mamhoud Ahmadinejad was officially sworn in as President of Iran this morning, despite opposition supporters once again taking to the country’s streets in protest. Eight weeks after the disputed election that sparked deadly protests in the capital of Tehran, Ahmadinejad promised to “to be at the service of the people” while at least ten protesters were arrested in the streets outside and others reported being beaten.

This video, courtesy of the BBC, shows Ahmadinejad’s speech (translated to English) as he accepts his Presidency:

Abdul Tweets It Quits, Bids AI Goodbye

Paula Abdul used Twitter to announce to the world she has decided to end her run as a judge on American Idol. Rumors have swirled around her future on Idol ever since Kara DioGuardi joined the show, and once Abdul tweeted her decision, Fox quickly confirmed the story.

USA today looks back on Abdul’s run on the show, and what her future prospects may be:

The Attack of the $70 Zombie Movie

Director Mark Price’s zombie movie, Colin, fulfilled every director’s dream: a showing at Cannes and a theatrical distribution deal. His trick? Make a movie for $70 in the middle of a global recession.

Colin stars unknown actors Price recruited from Facebook who were working for free, and was shot on a borrowed camera. His cost cutting methods caught the attention of an industry not used to being forced to tighten its belt:

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