{"id":23098,"date":"2024-04-17T22:06:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T02:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=23098"},"modified":"2024-04-17T22:06:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T02:06:46","slug":"participant-media-to-shut-down-operation-after-20-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=23098","title":{"rendered":"Participant Media to Shut Down Operation After 20 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Participant Media has announced that it will be shutting down all of its operations, Variety<\/a> is reporting. The news comes after the independent film and television production company was in operation for 20 years.<\/p>\n

Established in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, the company’s mission was to inspire social justice and humanitarian action. Participant<\/a> co-produced or co-financed multiple notable movies, including best picture Oscar winners Spotlight<\/strong><\/em> and Green Book<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Its other acclaimed work includes Steven Spielberg’s biographical historical drama, Lincoln<\/em><\/strong>. The film garnered Daniel Day-Lewis his third Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the titular America president. The company also\u00a0 released the breakthrough documentary An Inconvenient Truth<\/strong><\/em>, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.<\/p>\n

Skoll broke the news of Participant’s upcoming closure to its staff of roughly 100 earlier today in a letter. Almost all of the company’s employees will be dismissed. No new content is being developed, and no further production will be pursued.<\/p>\n

Following the layoff of its employees, Participant will become a skeletal holding company that will oversee its library. The library will represents interests in the 135 films it has made since its launch.<\/p>\n

Skoll wrote in the company-wide memo that “I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”<\/p>\n

As the message suggests, Participant and similar companies face an uphill battle in the current media landscape. Amid the ongoing struggles facing the economic, making streaming business models work after most productions stopped during last year’s Hollywood labor strikes has become increasingly difficult. As a result, studios aren’t making as many movies for adults, especially ones that are tackling social issues that Participant became known for releasing during its tenure.<\/p>\n

Participant produced many movies and shows that earned strong reviews, and its films grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office. The company also garnered multiple prestigious accolades; it won 21 Academy Awards out of 86 nominations, and was nominated for 18 Emmys for five television series. The company has also been honored by the American Cinematheque and the Producers Guild of America.<\/p>\n

But like all operations in show business, Participant’s output slowed during during the pandemic; it released only two movies in 2022 and 2023, down from around three times that in the years before theaters were forced to close for months.<\/p>\n

Its most notable television effort in recent years came right before the start of COVID-19, with the release of Netflix’s crime drama mini-series, When They See Us<\/em><\/strong>. Participant will remain involved in several television projects. One notable production is the Hulu crime drama series Interior Chinatown<\/strong><\/em>, which stars Jimmy O. Yang and is in post-production.<\/p>\n

In addition to releasing its acclaimed films, Participant also served as a model for do-gooder content. It has worked with nonprofits and activist groups to make and promote work that focused on the environment, human rights, institutional corruption and social justice.<\/p>\n

Participant has often noted that it strove to create premium content with a strong social impact element. That element has since been widely integrated by legacy studios and streamers.<\/p>\n

“Our titles drove tangible real-world change. We got out the vote and championed investigative journalism,” Skoll’s memo said. He added: “Participant content has made the world a safer, more just place for millions of people.”<\/p>\n

The film producer hasn’t actively run Participant for years, having brought in former Universal movie executive David Linde as CEO in 2015. Under the latter’s reign, Participant became the largest certified B Corp in entertainment. The designation means the company meets “social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. He oversaw the development of projects from such filmmakers as Alfonso Cuaron, Ava DuVernay and Taika Waititi.<\/p>\n

For about three years, Participant Media also owned the Pivot TV basic cable channel, after acquiring was previously known as the Documentary Channel in early 2013. Pivot TV was an early experiment in blending short-form content and unscripted programs aimed at the Gen Z audience. The channel, launched by veteran media executive Evan Shapiro, also aired several scripted originals.<\/p>\n

However, Pivot TV was an early casualty of cable cord-cutting and the rise of streaming. As an independent solo channel operator, Participant was unable to compete with larger companies and maintain the channel’s distribution base. As a result, Pivot TV shut down in 2016.<\/p>\n

Participant was driven by an ethos that was focused on effecting change off-screen as well. It become an early adopter of carbon neutral film sets and a provider of carbon offsets for its releases.<\/p>\n

It’s unclear which other studio and production company may take up Participant’s space in the industry, or if such a mission is sustainable. Social impact has become a clear focus of hallmark of talent-driven production labels, like President Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground.<\/p>\n

Read Skoll’s full farewell address to Participant’s staff below:<\/p>\n

Dear Participant Team,<\/p>\n

For 20 years, Participant has stood as the leading global media company focused on timely and emotionally transformational stories which speak to the world\u2019s most pressing issues. When I founded this company in 2004, I set out to maximize impact. It was a groundbreaking philanthropic venture that was the first \u2013 and for a long time, the only \u2013 of its kind.<\/p>\n

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As many of you have heard today, after much reflection, I have made the very difficult decision to wind down company operations. This is not a step I am taking lightly, but after 20 years of groundbreaking content and world-changing impact campaigns, it is the right time for me to evaluate my next chapter and approach to tackling the pressing issues of our time.<\/p>\n

I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.<\/p>\n

Although I have not been active in the day-to-day management of Participant for some years, this is a farewell to one of the most gratifying ventures of my career and there is much to be proud of. We succeeded in creating something truly one-of-a-kind: an impact media company with a double bottom line. This was intentional, and by all measures, we have been incredibly successful in driving the impact we set out to create. We have achieved the highest levels of critical and commercial success. We have released 135 films and 5 series, won 21 Academy Awards, including 2 Best Pictures, 4 Best Documentaries and 2 Best International Features, won 18 Emmy Awards, earned more than $3.3 billion in global box office revenue and partnered with the greatest storytellers and changemakers of our time. Together, we have built a category-defining media pioneer with an iconic, globally recognized brand whose legacy will live on through our people, our stories and all who are inspired by them.<\/p>\n

The global conversations sparked by films and series like An Inconvenient Truth<\/strong><\/em>, Contagion<\/em><\/strong>, Good Night, and Good Luck,<\/strong><\/em> Waiting for Superman<\/em><\/strong>, Lincoln<\/strong><\/em>, Spotlight<\/strong><\/em>, Roma<\/em><\/strong>, Food, Inc.<\/strong><\/em>, Judas and the Black Messiah<\/strong><\/em>, RBG<\/em><\/strong>, Just Mercy<\/em><\/strong>, American Factory<\/strong><\/em> and When They See Us<\/em><\/strong> gave all of us a new roadmap to engage \u2013 earnestly and meaningfully \u2013 in the unending pursuit of a better world. It\u2019s not an overstatement to say that Participant films changed the way we think and talk about impact-driven films, building a new lexicon for the power of transformational storytelling.<\/p>\n

Our titles drove tangible real-world change. We got out the vote and championed investigative journalism. From the passage of landmark legislation to enact labor protections for domestic workers in Mexico, to spurring state and federal action to address forever chemicals in the United States and Europe, to driving increased global awareness and willingness to act on climate change \u2013 Participant content has made the world a safer, more just place for millions of people.<\/p>\n

I am so grateful to our global community of Participants, who remind me every day that even one person can change the world with the right tools and enough determination. That community includes you all \u2013 I can’t thank you enough for everything you have given to this incredible company in your time here. I’d also like to thank David for his vision, leadership and continued growth of the company over the past 8 years. Whether you have been with us for months or years, if there is one thing you take from your experience, I hope it’s that sense of purpose we have cultivated among our community.<\/p>\n

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As this chapter of Participant comes to a close, I am emboldened by the efforts of the next generation of storytellers and content creators who are building upon and reimagining this work. From philanthropists, to producers, to distributors, to social impact agencies, more and more individuals and organizations all over the world are recognizing and adopting impact models as core to their approaches. The ripple effects of Participant can be felt far and wide \u2013 what we have started together is just the beginning.<\/p>\n

Thank you all for your hard work and unwavering dedication to Participant. I have nothing but respect and admiration for each and every one of you, and I know you will continue to carry the legacy of what we built together far into the future.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n

Jeff<\/p>\n

If you liked this article, please share your comment below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out more of Karen Benardello’s articles.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Participant Media has announced that it will be shutting down all of its operations, Variety is reporting. The news comes after the independent film and television production company was in operation for 20 years. Established in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, the company’s mission was to inspire social justice and humanitarian action. Participant co-produced or co-financed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":23099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[21665,21663,21662,21664,1170,17483],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nParticipant Media to Shut Down Operation After 20 Years | Cinema Daily US<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Film and television production company Participant Media is shutting down its operations after 20 years, founder Jeff Skoll has announced.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=23098\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Participant Media to Shut Down Operation After 20 Years | Cinema Daily 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