eBay guru in bidness on WB pix

Participant plans to produce four to six films per year

By MARC GRASER

Skoll

Philanthropist and eBay founder Jeff Skoll has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to co-finance and produce the dramas "Syriana" and "Class Action" through his Participant Prods. shingle.

Skoll formed the Los Angeles-based production entity earlier this year to back commercially viable projects that "center on important social issues and awaken, inspire and empower their audiences to make a difference."

While Warner Bros. declined to disclose the pricetags on the greenlit pics, partnership with Skoll will have Participant ponying up half of each pic's budget.

Participant has said that it plans to produce four to six films per year, with budgets of up to $40 million.

"Syriana," based on Robert Baer's book "See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism," deals with espionage around the international oil trade and the political future of the Middle East.

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright and Amanda Peet star in the pic, which Stephen Gaghan is helming from his own script. Section Eight's Steven Soderbergh and Clooney are producing with Michael Nozik.

"Class Action" centers on a group of female mine workers who sue the men who are sexually harassing them.

Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand will star in the drama, to be helmed by Niki Caro from a script by Michael Seitzman. Lensing starts in early 2005.

Project is based on Claire Bingham and Laura Leedy Gansler's tome "Class Action: The Story of Lois Jenson and the Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law."

"We are passionate about illuminating the need for positive change in the world through popular media, which reaches the widest possible audience," Skoll said. Participant's first co-production was IFC Prods.' "American Gun," on which Aric Avelino makes his writing and directing debut. Project's interwoven storylines focus on how American lives are affected by guns.