Postcard from Sundance... Starting with H'wood Agents at Burbank Airport
No festival stars without Hollywood 'Hunger Games' at the gate
Reminder: In the spirit of our dealmakers at Sundance, we celebrated our industry’s fine agents and managers this week with a must-read series dedicated to their business. Make sure to check it out.
Agents’ New Big Deal: Quitting
Why Do Deals Take So Long to Sign?
Tales from the Agency Mailroom. Still a Thing
Big Managers of the Moment 2024
Burbank: A Prologue
Before we get our feet in the snow in Park City, our journey begins with the voyage to the fest, at the Burbank Airport.
On Thursday around noon, a Delta flight was scheduled to take off for Salt Lake City, gateway to the Sundance Film Festival. Accordingly, the flight was filled entirely with Hollywood types (AirPods, Moncler vests), headed to the fest, as though it has been chartered for the purpose.
When the potentates arrived at their gate they were informed that they were five too many, that the plane had been overbooked, and couldn’t board until the crew had five volunteers to take the next flight, leaving a few hours later.
Hollywood being what it is, of course no one stepped forward.
Sweetening the offer, the crew put $200 on the table for anyone who would take the later flight. Still no one stepped forward. The offer climbed to $300. Then $500. And in classic Hollywood spirit, still no one was willing to skip the flight and take one that would be leaving a couple hours later.
The offer went up to $800. An hour passed and the passengers still sat on their hands. As it reached $1000, a couple Hollywood agents approached the counter, trying to haggle for a better deal — perhaps a few first class upgrades thrown in?
But then…
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