'Syriana' Producers Tap Energy Experts, Conservation Advocates to Fight Real-World Oil Security Challenges Raised in Powerful New Film

'Syriana' Producers Tap Energy Experts, Conservation Advocates to Fight Real-World Oil Security Challenges Raised in Powerful New Film

Newcomer Participant Productions Looks to Give Audiences a Voice for Change

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The new film Syriana offers a gripping portrayal of the moral, political and financial corruption unleashed by the world's insatiable thirst for oil. Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, Chris Cooper, William Hurt, Mazhar Muhnir, Tim Blake Nelson, Amanda Peet, Christopher Plummer and Alexander Siddig, Syriana takes audiences inside a global energy system that keeps us warm at night, gets us to work in the morning, and creates devastating potential for conflict and violence.

Not content with simply telling a story, Participant Productions, one of the producers of Syriana, felt it essential to give moviegoers a chance to channel the concerns stirred by the hard-hitting film. So they teamed with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club for their extensive energy expertise. Together they have created an innovative public campaign called Oil Change, offering audiences smarter energy solutions that will lower energy bills and cut our dependence on oil.

"Syriana deals with some of the most pressing challenges of our time. We knew it would be a uniquely relevant film, and that we had to give audiences a way to do something about the very real circumstances they're seeing on screen," said Participant Executive Vice-President Meredith Blake. "It's not just about being angry anymore. Now people have the power to use that energy for change."

The Oil Change site (www.participate.net/oilchange) lets visitors contact their representatives in Congress, or send a message encouraging Detroit automakers to step up production of cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks. People can also find ways to cut back their own oil consumption, and read opinions and ideas on the oil issue from a wide range of social and political perspectives. And they will be able to add their own comments to the Oil Change blog.

"Syriana is crystallizing the growing concern up and down the political spectrum that we are paying too high a price for our oil," said NRDC Media Director Jon Coifman, who has been closely involved with the project. "The movie is hitting at a critical moment in terms of national consciousness, and it's doing so in a way that people really connect with. That's why it is so crucial to tap that audience energy."

The New York City premiere of Syriana served as a benefit for the NRDC, which is also working separately with leading defense and intelligence experts and conservative religious groups to press both political parties for legislation that would dramatically reduce our oil dependence within the decade.

"Syriana shows Americans who is behind the gas pump," said Dan Becker, Washington Director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming Program. "The good news is that by producing clean cars and clean energy, we can cut our oil dependence and the high consumer costs, dangerous pollution, and global conflict that go with it."

The Sierra Club is working with state and local governments to promote visionary solutions to our energy problems. Recently they have begun working with a coalition of U.S. mayors to reduce global warming pollution by adopting policies that favor clean cars, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Although it has just 3 percent of world petroleum oil reserves, the United States consumes 25 percent of world oil production, guzzling almost 19 million barrels each day. In addition to the corruption depicted in Syriana, oil dependence contributes to global warming, causes air pollution, and creates pressure to drill in special places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Founded in January 2004 by Ebay pioneer and philanthropist Jeff Skoll and headed by Ricky Strauss, Participant Productions' projects focus on compelling entertainment that highlights important social issues so as to awaken, inspire and empower audiences to make a difference. In addition to Syriana, Participant's films include: 'Good Night, And Good Luck', produced with 2929 Entertainment, directed by George Clooney, and starring Clooney, David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey, Jr.; 'North Country', directed by Niki Caro (Whalerider) and starring Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand and Sissy Spacek. Participant documentaries include the acclaimed 'Murderball', in partnership with THINKFilm and MTV Films; and the upcoming The World According to Sesame Street.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1.2 million members and online activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Sierra Club is over 750,000 of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

Source: The Natural Resources Defense Council

CONTACT: Meredith Blake, Participant Productions, +1-310-550-5137, or
+1-310-498-8944; Jon Coifman, Natural Resources Defense Council,
+1-212-727-4535, or +1-917-575-1885; Megan Lewis, Sierra Club,
+1-202-548-6587, or +1-860-729-6477

Web site: http://www.nrdc.org/
http://www.participate.net/oilchange

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