Participant (company)

Participant Media, LLC
Formerly
  • Participant Productions (2004–2007)
  • Participant Media (2007–2019)
IndustryFilm production
FoundedJanuary 2004; 20 years ago (2004-01)
FounderJeffrey Skoll
DefunctApril 16, 2024; 7 months ago (2024-04-16)
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsFilm, Television
WebsiteOfficial website

Participant Media, LLC was an American independent film and television production company founded in 2004 by Jeffrey Skoll, dedicated to entertainment intended to spur social change.[1] The company financed and co-produced film and television content, as well as digital entertainment through its subsidiary SoulPancake, which the company acquired in 2016.[2]

The company was originally named Participant Productions and went on to become a well-known independent financier. The company's name descriptively politicizes[3] its basis on currently topical subjects presented to induce awareness of problematic social aspects.[4][5][6]

The company produced, financed, or co-produced 135 films and five television series. Its films have been nominated for 73 Academy Awards, and have won 18, including Best Picture for Green Book and Spotlight.[7][8][9][10]

Participant, which earned B Corp certification in 2017,[11] was the largest company that exclusively produces and finances social impact entertainment.[12]

On April 16, 2024, Skoll announced that the company would be winding down operations after two decades, with nearly all of its staff being dismissed and development of new content ceasing entirely.[13]

  1. ^ "'Green Book' and 'Roma' producer Participant gets a makeover as it rides 'conscious consumer' wave". Los Angeles Times. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  2. ^ Rainey, James (13 October 2016). "Participant Media Acquires Rainn Wilson's SoulPancake". Variety. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  3. ^ Thompson, Anne (March 10, 2008). "West, Atkinson Earn 'Minimum Wage'". Variety.
  4. ^ Solomon, Lewis (2008). "Participant Productions", Tech Billionaires: Reshaping Philanthropy in a Quest for a Better World. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 2008. p. 76-81. ISBN 1-4128-0847-2.
  5. ^ Pinsker, Beth (September 7, 2004). "Millionaire Report Cards". Variety.
  6. ^ Graser, Marc (September 22, 2004). "eBay Guru in Bidness on WB Pix". Variety.
  7. ^ Thompson, Anne (September 13, 2007). "Participant President Staying Active". Variety.
  8. ^ Gaghan, Stephen (April 30, 2006). "Jeff Skoll". Time.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2013OscarNoms was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Kilday, Gregg (24 February 2019). "Oscars Studio Scorecard: Disney, Fox, Universal and Netflix Claim Big Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Participant | Certified B Corporation". Certified B Corporation. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  12. ^ "The Cinema of Change EcosystemThe Cinema of Change Ecosystem – Cinema of Change". www.cinemaofchange.com. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference shutdown was invoked but never defined (see the help page).