Participant Media
How Modern Hollywood Doomed Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media Dream
At the Oscars in 2019, one production company was at the center of the year’s most talked about films and on the cusp of the industry’s sweeping trends. The man who backed it, however, wasn’t at the ceremony. That year the films made by Participant Media collected 17 Oscar nominations, for Green Book, which eventually […]
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“To Have Them Disappear Is Devastating”: Doc Filmmakers Reckon With Participant’s Abrupt End
The sudden end of Participant Media came as a shock to many in the entertainment industry, but it hit documentary filmmakers particularly hard, with some concerned that backers for serious-minded, issue-driven projects are becoming ever more scarce. Since its founding in 2004, the company — which sought to bring stories that could spark change to […]
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Venice: Participant’s Liesl Copland on Laura Poitras, Steve James Docs and “Smuggling” the Message in the Creative
Given the direction of the world in recent years, it’s perhaps no surprise that Participant — Jeff Skoll’s socially conscious production powerhouse — has been as prolific as ever. But its output isn’t all about shining a torch on today’s most pressing concerns, as Academy Awards winners such as Roma, Green Book and Spotlight attest. That said, the […]
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Participant Ups Four Execs in Campaigns and Engagement
Participant has elevated four executives in the campaigns and engagement department, which is meant to extend the reach and impact of Participant’s films through marketing, digital resources and social. Michaela Bethune has been named senior vp digital and creative marketing, having previously served as vp audience development. She recently worked on campaigns for Judas and […]
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Participant Creates Impact Advisory Council, Names Inaugural Members
Participant announced on Tuesday the creation of its Impact Advisory Council, which will provide feedback and recommendations on the media company’s social impact strategy around campaigns and strengthen connections to those with shared goals. The council is comprised of five leaders in the impact and entertainment space, whose expertise in advancing social issues will help […]
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Banff: Participant’s David Linde Says He’s “Energized” by Film, TV Content That Inspires Social Change
Participant CEO David Linde sees viewers of his studio’s movies and TV series as potential agents of social change. “People are beginning to understand the value of engagement. That’s what we’re trying to do, to give people a way of engaging on multiple fronts, that has value for the commercial success of a movie and […]
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Laurence Fishburne, Clifton Collins Jr. Board ‘Frank & Louis’ Prison Drama
Laurence Fishburne and Clifton Collins Jr. are set to star in Frank & Louis, a prison drama to be directed by Petra Volpe for Participant, Zodiac Pictures and Tyler Perry’s Peachtree & Vine Productions. The feature portrays a man serving a life sentence who takes an in-prison job caring for aging and infirm prisoners suffering […]
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Olympics Black Power Salute Protest Movie in the Works at MGM
Premature helmer Rashaad Ernesto Green is set to direct ’68, a drama about the historic 1968 Olympics Black Power salute protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos during a medal presentation, for MGM, Participant and Macro. Billy Ray will pen the screenplay about the American Olympians and track athletes who medaled at the Mexico City […]
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Chloé Zhao Boards Vincent Chin Limited Series at Participant
Participant’s limited series about Vincent Chin and the landmark civil rights case following his death has added Chloé Zhao as an executive producer. The Oscar-winning director of Nomadland and The Eternals joins a producing team that also includes journalist and activist Helen Zia — the executor of the Chin estate — and Vicangelo Bulluck, Donald […]
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Participant Taps Sarah Sobel as SVP of Business Affairs
Participant added to its executive ranks, tapping Sarah Sobel as svp of business and legal affairs and upping Emma Shapiro to svp of communications. Before joining Participant, Sobel was at eOne handling Brad Weston’s Makeready. Prior to eOne, Sobel spent 15 years at The Weinstein Company, advising on projects that include The Hateful Eight and […]
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Participant to Receive American Cinematheque’s Power of Cinema Award
The American Cinematheque has set another honoree for its Nov. 18 gala, confirming media company Participant to receive the Power of Cinema Award presented by Hill Valley. Participant CEO David Linde will accept the award on behalf of the Jeff Skoll-founded company during the ceremony at which Scarlett Johansson will be feted with the 35th […]
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Actual Films Names Justine Nagan Head of Production (Exclusive)
Veteran documentary producer Justine Nagan has been named head of production at Actual Films, the production company led by An Inconvenient Sequel directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk set for an international expansion. Nagan most recently spent five years as executive director at the New York-headquartered American Documentary Inc. (AmDoc), where her film credits included The […]
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