EBay founder looks to direct reel change

[mandy]

Jeff Skoll -- the shy multi-billionaire co-founder of eBay -- left Silicon Valley last year, and set out to test his theory ``that people are basically good'' on the movie industry.

At first, people here quite naturally assumed he must be demented...

full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryne...source=rss&channel=mercurynews_movies

[mandy]

This week "Syriana," the latest film from Skoll's production company, opens across the country, suggesting that the global oil industry is infested with crime and corruption.

Skoll has broken so quickly into Hollywood because he's a billionaire. He grew up modestly in Toronto and later failed at a computer business. But after getting an MBA at Stanford University, he co-founded eBay and is now worth $3.5 billion.

"I feel very fortunate to have had the financial wherewithal that came from eBay," he said. "In fact, I see myself as a steward for that money to do good things in the world...

full article: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=1367665