EBay founder is producer of "Good Night and Good Luck"

[alittlelark]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/movies/12897956.htm

EBay founder looks to direct reel change

MAGNATE: FILMS MUST `EDUCATE AND INSPIRE'

HOLLYWOOD - Jeff Skoll -- the shy multi-billionaire co-founder of eBay -- left Silicon Valley last year, and set out to test his theory ``that people are basically good'' on the movie industry.
<snip>
What each of those films has in common is an underlying assumption that they can ``educate and inspire'' people to ``actually get involved in the issues,'' Skoll says. When he founded Participant Productions last year -- to make pictures that not only do well at the box office, but also good in the world -- Skoll relied on a concept called ``the virtuous cycle'' that had been part of his original business plan for eBay.
<snip>
With a personal fortune currently estimated at about $4 billion, and his own philanthropic foundation in Palo Alto that doles out genius grants to social entrepreneurs, Skoll is not someone to be underestimated. But Hollywood is a place not built on hugs, and the idea of assigning value to movies other than by their box office haul is one that makes some insiders here queasy.
<snip>
To increase the likelihood of that, Each Participant picture will try to extend its themes through accompanying ``social action campaigns.'' Says Participant president Ricky Strauss, ``It's a key part of our business to use the social sector organizations. Jeff created the company with the idea that media can create social change, and we need to give audiences a chance to do that.''



Am I the only one who didn't know this? It was on the front page of our paper today.

I'm gonna hang out at EBay a bit more after reading this!

[ClayZ]

1. Just the advertisements for this Movie

must be making people think about the difference between good and bad journalism. Ny husband and I were talking about that last night.

"GOOD ON EBAY doing the GOOD WORK"! We have been members for several years, doing lots of buying and lots of selling there.







:kick:

[alittlelark]

2. I've only bought, never sold...

I have tons of stuff to get rid of. I should try selling it there.

[ClayZ]

3. It is quite a study, but kind of fun.

I wish we had more time to eBay!

[mtnsnake]

4. That's good, but Ebay's president and CEO is a huge Bush supporter

Margaret Whitman, ebay's president & CEO, has been rewarded by Bush for her support with a seat on his Trade Advisory Committee.

[charlie]

5. Ebay's REAL founder

Pierre Omidyar, seems to be a guy who got religion pretty quick after donating to Bush in 1999. With a couple of local exceptions, he's been Democrat all the way since then.

http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/Pierre_Omidyar.php

[ClayZ]

6. I did not know that... Thanks for the heads up! nt

[chalky]

7. I'm SHOCKED!! (Not.)

Ever since Meg came on board there's been a subtle move on eBay's part to muscle out the "mom & pop" sellers in favor of corporate sellers.