…as Clooney had nothing and was hung up to dry by the CIA and would have been totally neutered emasculated what ever way you want to put it to be rendered harmless.

I think the point there was that he still had CIA training. CIA agents are trained to be autonomous, operating with little to no backup. His network of contacts is his own. He’s used to doing these things solo, so a lack of institutional backup doesn’t change much for him in terms of his ability to hurt an individual.

Whether it is a feature film, documentary or other form of media, Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that also create awareness of the real issues that shape our lives. We seek to entertain our audiences first, then to invite them to participate in making a difference next. Participant believes that people are basically good (even in Hollywood!) and that everyone deserves the chance to be a participant!

Thinking that one particular movie will change the world is rather unlikely. I think what’s much more important to look at is trends in movies, and in the media in general. The movies we create are a reflection of our beliefs and values as a society. And our beliefs and values are, in turn, shaped by the movies we watch, the books we read, etc. Syriana itself might do quite a bit to educate people about the issues involved in the oil industry, but it’s probably not going to change society as we know it. On the other hand, a hundred Syrianas just might.

And interestingly enough, there does seem to be a trend in film moving toward Syriana-like movies. Just this year we’ve had The Constant Gardener, Lord of War, Jarhead, etc. All these films take a hard look at real issues facing society in a very gritty, realistic way. So I’m pretty happy with what film has done for us in recent years.