John Sloss (born 1956) is an entertainment lawyer, film sales agent, and manager, who has produced or executive produced over 50 films including the Academy Award-winning The Fog of War, Boys Don't Cry and Boyhood. Other credits include Bernie, City of Hope, Friends with Kids, A Scanner Darkly, Far From Heaven, and Before Sunrise.
John Sloss | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 (age 67–68) Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainment lawyer, sales agent, film producer, talent manager |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Career
editJohn Sloss was born to Richard and Marjory Sloss of Rochester, he spent his childhood in Michigan. He got a law degree from the University of Michigan[1] and got a job at big Wall Street company. Later he became a partner at a boutique entertainment firm. After and accidental meeting with John Sayles, he became his lawyer and producing partner. This partnership brought Sloss to establish his own practice, in 1993 he opened an office in New York. In the 1990s and 2000s, Sloss did legal work for Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, Whit Stillman, Todd Haynes, Jared Hess, Morgan Spurlock, John Sayles, Victor Nunez, and many others.[2][3][4] He became famous for brokering deals for modestly budgeted movies which often became critical and commercial hits. Already in 1998, at Sundance, Sloss negotiated the festival’s biggest sale: Next Stop, Wonderland by Brad Anderson, which Miramax acquired for almost $6 mln.[2] His other sales included Napoleon Dynamite, Super Size Me, Little Miss Sunshine, Precious, The Kids Are All Right, and many more[5][6]
In 2000, Sloss co-founded InDigEnt, a digital production company.[7][3] In 2001, Sloss founded Cinetic Media, a New York based film finance, distribution and sales label.[8] In 2016, Cinetic opened a management division in Los Angeles.[9]
Among his other businesses are Filmbuff, a digital distribution company founded in 2009,[10] Producers Distribution Agency (2010),[11] that released the films Banksy's Exit Through the Gift Shop,[12] Senna, The Way,[13] and Brooklyn Castle.[14]
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Film at Lincoln Center and serves on the Finance Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[15][16] Sloss has also served as an adjunct professor in the Graduate film program at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.[17]
As of 2023, Sloss is referred to as indie filmdom’s foremost deal-maker. Through his companies he has facilitated the sale or financing of over 300 indie films.[18][19][2]
Family
editIn 2002, Sloss married Kathryn Tucker, an actress and producer for SenArt Films.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Kathryn Tucker, John Sloss". The NY Times. July 21, 2002. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c Wallace, Amy (January 27, 1992). "Sharing All the 'Slossperity'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Stewart, D. R. (March 28, 2007). "John Sloss". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 8, 2017). "John Sloss talks Facebook series, the future of film sales and Cinetic's next move". Screen Daily. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Peter Knegt. "10 Things Every Filmmaker Should Know From John Sloss's Hot Docs Master Class". Cineuropa. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Gray, Tim (May 17, 2015). "Cannes: Indie Maven John Sloss Gets Out of Town for Special Treat". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "InDigEnt forms for digital pix". Variety. July 28, 2000. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (January 23, 2015). "What Makes a Film Pop at Sundance? Cinetic Media Talks 2015 Breakouts, Raising 'Boyhood'". Indie Wire. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent; Setoodeh, Ramin (January 21, 2016). "Sundance: Cinetic Media Launches Management Division (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Swart, Sharon (July 9, 2009). "FilmBuff set for movies". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Benzine, Adam (July 19, 2012). "Producers Distribution Agency picks up "Brooklyn Castle"". Realscreen. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Zeitchik, Steven (March 30, 2010). "'Exit Through the Gift Shop': The enigma known as Banksy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (July 29, 2011). "Estevez's The Way inspires PDA, ARC and AMC". Screen Daily. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (August 18, 2011). "Senna' Starts Theatrical Run in High Gear". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "John Sloss". Harvard Business School. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Bernstein, Paula (October 28, 2013). "John Sloss Releases VOD Numbers for 'Escape From Tomorrow'; Urges Other Distributors to Show Us the Numbers". Indie Wire. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Producers Peggy Rajski, John Sloss, Christine Vachon, and Ted Hope Appointed to the NYU Graduate Film Faculty". NYU Tisch School of the Arts. October 11, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Chris (September 22, 2023). "How Anti-'Algorithm' Richard Linklater's Festival Smash Hit Man Ended Up at Netflix". Vulture. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Means, Sean P. (January 13, 2013). "csp "Meet Sundance's (Arguably) Most Powerful Person". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2024.