Participant Productions Teams With Warner Bros. Pictures on Financing for "Syriana" and "Untitled Niki Caro Project"

Production Company Seeks to Partner on Films Addressing Social-Issues 

BURBANK, CA, September 23 2004--Warner Bros. Pictures and philanthropist Jeff Skoll's Participant Productions have announced a partnership that will provide co-financing for Syriana and Untitled Niki Caro Project, both feature films on the 2005 slate at Warner Bros. Pictures. The announcement was made today by Alan Horn, President & Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros., and Jeff Skoll, founder and Chairman of Participant Productions.

As eBay's first full-time employee and first President, Jeff Skoll championed the power of the individual and eBay's community as vital to the company's success. He founded Participant Productions in June, 2004, as a Los Angeles-based production company focused on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, each highlighting a similar theme - social injustices and the individuals who dedicate their lives and passion to making a difference.

Syriana, written and directed by Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan, produced by Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney and Michael Nozik, and starring Clooney, Matt Damon and Amanda Peet, is inspired by Robert Baer's non-fiction best-seller See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism and is a story of espionage and intrigue that revolves around the international oil trade and the political future of the Middle East. It is currently in production for worldwide release by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Untitled Niki Caro Project is inspired by Untitled Niki Caro Project: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law, by Claire Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler. The screenplay is by Michael Seitzman and the film is to be directed by Oscar nominee Niki Caro starring Oscar-winners Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand. It follows the story of a group of female mine workers who file suit against the men who are sexually harassing them. The film is expected to go into production in early 2005 for worldwide release by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Said Skoll, "We are passionate about illuminating the need for positive change in the world through popular media, which reaches the widest possible audience. These two movies are being made with some of entertainment's most prestigious talent and tell riveting stories about issues we currently face on both large and intimate scales. We are proud and pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Warner Bros. on these productions."

Stated Alan Horn, "Warner Bros. Pictures releases a varied and extensive slate of movies every year, some of which are great stories driven by important social issues. We are proud to be making Syriana and Untitled Niki Caro Project, two of these types of films, for release in the coming year, and extremely pleased to be partnered with Participant Productions on the financing of these movies. We admire what Jeff and Participant Productions are doing by supporting the creative process."

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CONTACTS:
Stacy Ivers
Warner Bros. Pictures
818-954-6228

Chris Libby
mPRm Public Relations
323-933-3399