Jeff Skoll may be my new favorite person. You may remember him as the guy who started eBay. I just found out that since cashing out, he’s gone on to create Participant Productions — a production company built around the idea of using movies as a catalyst for change. They’ve helped produce Good Night, and Good Luck, Syriana, North Country, and Murderball. He didn’t stop there: he’s created participate.net — a nexus for activism on the issues brought up by the films. So, not only does he try to inspire through film, he gives you a place to go so you can do something with all that energy.
Good Night and Good Luck is a fantastic story of activism and integrity. Though not by Participant, Lord of War is a similar film using facts in a fictional context to illuminate important issues. I find this type of filmmaking is far more inspiring than any Michael Moore pseudo-documentary. These films engage you; they remind you that these issues are real; then they show you that the world can change if we take action.
A Storyteller’s job is not merely to entertain. Storytellers also educate and guide the values of their society. They tell fairy tales to keep children from wandering into the woods. They tell stories to help adults cope with death, jealousy, and love. They remind people of the successes and failures of history so that we might learn. For me, the sort of films Skoll is producing is a return to the true calling of Storytelling.
So, Jeff Skoll now sits right next to Bono in my mind — people who make great art and use all their talents and influence to make the world a better place.
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