Anatomy of a movie market
Summary
This episode follows sales agents John and Eric Sloss through the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, revealing the high-stakes strategy behind selling independent films to major studios and streamers. The hosts explore the "anatomy of a movie market," detailing how agents manage buyer expectations, orchestrate exclusive events, and navigate competitive bidding wars. Through case studies like Napoleon Dynamite and Precious, the story illustrates how luck, timing, and shrewd negotiation determine whether a film becomes a commercial hit or fades into obscurity.
Topics discussed
Intro: Mall skincare investigation and Planet Money teaser
Host intro: The hidden market behind streaming menus
Meeting John Sloss, the 'King of Sundance'
John and Eric Sloss: Sales agents at the festival
Tracking buyers and the first screening of K2
Interview with Eugene Hernandez, Sundance head
The first screening: Audience reaction and stakes
Sponsor reads and podcast promos
History: How Sex, Lies and Videotape changed Sundance
The sales dance: Ingratiating vs. hardline negotiation
Case study: Selling Napoleon Dynamite by downplaying it
Case study: Little Miss Sunshine and the bidding war
Case study: The difficult sale of Precious
Market shifts: Streaming wars to post-COVID slowdown
Sponsor reads and podcast promos
Competition: Hollywood talent agencies encroaching
Strategy: Controlling narrative and gathering intel
Showmanship: The Wu-Tang Clan listening party stunt
The Cynetic Party: Deals made in the saloon
The Lincoln Log Chalet: Closing the K2 deal with Apple
Epilogue: Films on streaming and credits
NPR Politics podcast promo
Through Line promo: Stories from Gaza
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