Participant Productions Producing 'Sesame Street' Documentary

Participant Productions Producing Sesame Street Documentary

LOS ANGELES, CA, November 17, 2004--Participant Productions announced today that it is producing, in association with International Street Productions, The World According to Sesame Street, a documentary which examines the history of the revolutionary children's program as well as its cultural, political and social impact around the globe. To be directed and produced by Linda Goldstein Knowlton and Linda Hawkins, the film will shoot for a full year across several continents. Participant Chairman and CEO Jeff Skoll will serve as executive producer. Participant retains all rights globally. 

The documentary emphasizes four productions - Kosovo, Bangladesh, South Africa and El Salvador - among the 20 that Sesame Workshop co-produces globally with local producers, directors, casts and crews. Highlights include: the impact of an HIV-positive "Muppet" character in compelling the South African government to address the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic; the creation of a strong female character which challenged traditional gender roles in Egypt; and programming designed to foster cross-cultural tolerance in post-conflict Kosovo.

"We are honored to spearhead this groundbreaking project which will both record and celebrate the show's ongoing, global commitment to accessible education and social progress," said Participant Productions Chief Vision Officer and Senior Vice President of Business Development, Chris Adams. “Sesame Street is consistent with our mission to address, through mainstream media, vital social issues in ways that create awareness, inspire and empower audiences to take action."

Linda Goldstein Knowlton's producing credits include the breakout hit Whale Rider (2003), The Shipping News (2001), Crazy in Alabama (1999) and Mumford (1999). Linda Hawkins has directed and produced for various film and television companies including CBS, Fox, Animal Planet and Oxygen.

About Participant Productions--Jeff Skoll founded Participant Productions in January, 2004, as a Los Angeles-based media company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films and documentaries. Skoll is also the founder and Chairman of The Skoll Foundation, one of the largest organizations supporting social entrepreneurs in the world. Previously, Skoll was the first employee and first President of eBay.

Participant recently signed a two-picture deal with Warner Bros. on Syriana (writer/director: Stephen Gaghan; cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Amanda Peet), which is currently in production, and Class Action (director: Niki Caro; cast: Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand), which is expected to shoot in early 2005. Additional Participant projects include American Gun, starring Donald Sutherland, Forest Whitaker and Marcia Gay Harden, an ensemble piece about gun proliferation in America, to be released by IFC Films; and the documentary Arna's Children, which is currently available at www.arnaschildren.com and NetFlix.

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