L.A. Times profiles Participant

In today's Los Angeles Times, columnist Patrick Goldstein has a fascinating profile of Participant Productions entitled "Merging movies and activism". Participant, founded last year by eBay co-founder/billionaire Jeff Skoll, is committed to produce films that can effect social change (such as Good Night and Good Luck, North Country, Syriana, and Richard Linklater's forthcoming adaptation of Fast Food Nation).

"To me, we're straddling the line between business and philanthropy," says Skoll, whose earnest, thoughtful manner marks him as a fish out of water in the Hollywood shark tank. "If a film is successful, but does no good in the world, I would consider it a failure. Whereas if a movie does some good but doesn't make a lot of money, I'd still say it was worthwhile."