Participant

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Participant Media, LLC was an American film production company founded in 2004 by Jeffrey Skoll, dedicated to entertainment intended to spur social change. After 20 years of operation, Skoll announced on April 16, 2024 that he was dissolving the company and most of the staff would be let go. Today, Participant only functions to control the interests of its film library.


Participant Productions

1st Logo (September 15, 2005)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a row of uneven blue boxes, each containing a capital letter in italics. There are sticks below each box, probably to resemble signs or banners that crowds hold. These boxes all form the word "PARTICIPANT". "PRODUCTIONS" is seen below at the right side.

Technique: A still image.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on American Gun.

2nd Logo (October 21, 2005-December 21, 2007)


Visuals: On a black background, a row of blue (or gray) boxes rotate in, each of them containing a capital letter in italics. These form the word "PARTICIPANT", in a similar font to the previous logo. "PRODUCTIONS" appears below at the right side. It then rotates back or just fades out.

Technique: CGI animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on Syriana and North Country among others.

Participant Media

1st Logo (April 11, 2008-October 2, 2015)


Visuals: On a black background, light effects swirl and form the word "participant" word with "MEDIA" in gray underneath it (both in Trade Gothic Extended) and a small red circle next to the text. The circle glows.

Variants:

  • An alternate version, simply consisting of the logo in white on a brown background, can be seen on trailers for some of their movies.
  • On several movies released in 2014, the small text "10th ANNIVERSARY" fades in below the logo.
  • A short version formerly appeared on TV shows from the now-defunct Pivot and The Help.

Technique: CGI animation.

Audio: A mellow orchestral tune composed by Danny Elfman, with a quiet whoosh when the circle glows.

Audio Variants:

  • Sometimes, the theme is rearranged.
  • On The Help, the theme continues over the Image Nation Abu Dhabi logo.

Availability: Can be seen on Contagion, Waiting for "Superman", The Beaver, Food, Inc., The Help and Snitch, among others.

2nd Logo (October 16, 2015-2019)


Visuals: There are two animated variants, both featuring the words "participant media" in a white bold font and stacked on each other. The second "p" and "d" are connected and the first p appears as a cut-out in a circle, with a turquoise counter.

  • Logo 1: The logo gradually wipes in from the left, stays on for several seconds, and swiftly wipes out to the right.
  • Logo 2: Beacons of soft, blue light bring the letters of the wordmark together.

Variant: On Pivot's shows, the text "original series" appears below the word "media". Plus, the letter "p" flashes when the logo fades in.

Technique: CGI animation.

Audio: The previous theme (usually abridged), the opening theme, or none. The second version has a synth piano theme.

Availability: The first version made its debut on Bridge of Spies and was used until RBG. The second version made its debut on Green Book.

Participant

Logo (2019-2024)


Visuals: On a black background, a flag moves from left to right, with a partial view of the Participant logo. It then reveals the logo in its entirety; two deformed rectangles that are arranged to look like the letter "P", and the word "PARTICIPANT" underneath the horizontal rectangle.

Variants:

  • A short version exists where the flag reveals the logo.
  • An in credit version also exists.
  • On the trailers for White Bird, the logo is black with a sepia outline and it has some sepia circles surrounding it. Many dark birds are seen flying up in front of and behind the logo.

Technique: CGI animation by Wieden+Kennedy.

Audio: A seven-note piano theme (composed by John Bowers) with a flag flapping, the opening theme, or none.

Availability: First appeared on Dark Waters and has since made appearances on all of the company's other movies. It also appeared on television shows like Noughts + Crosses.