With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Participant, An Oscar Darling Production Company, To Close After 20 Years
Participant Logo
(
Participant
/
https://participant.com/
)
Topline:
Participant, the production company founded by billionaire Jeff Skoll to make movies and TV shows while also amplifying social messages and seeking to spur change, announced on April 16 that it is winding down operations after 20 years.
Why it matters: Participant made a lot of serious films for adult audiences, and its work garnered an impressive number of awards, including 21 Academy Awards and 18 Emmys. Approximately 100 people will lose their jobs, and the company’s demise means that creatives lose an outlet committed to telling stories relating to such issues as climate change (An Inconvenient Truth), race relations (Green Book, John Lewis: Good Trouble) and corporate malfeasance (Food, Inc., White Coat Rebels).
Why Participant is no more: Although Skoll did not elaborate on his reasoning for shutting down Participant, the market for issue-oriented films for adults is not what it was in the mid-2000s when he started the company. These kind of films have less opportunity at the box office, and streaming services have also shown less appetite for them, despite their pedigree.
Sponsored message
For more ... read the full story on The Ankler.
This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
