Documentary by Morgan Spurlock Explores the Complex Lives of Sports Agents
In today’s world of lockouts and labor talks, sports agents are often viewed as villains in the profession. Acclaimed director Morgan Spurlock, who famously exposed the fast food industry in his landmark documentary Super Size Me, sets his sights on the ultra-competitive world of professional sports agents in ESPN Films’ new documentary The Dotted Line, premiering on Tuesday, October 11, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.
In The Dotted Line, Spurlock spends a year inside the world of the sports agent industry and pulls back the curtain to expose what these guys really do in the trenches. The film follows top agents in the NFL, the NBA and MLB to explore the turbulent and emotional ups and downs of recruiting, marketing, and negotiating record-breaking contracts for their top-tier clients. The film also explores recent NCAA agent scandals and the complex issues that can arise when college athletes turn pro. Agents Peter Greenberg and Eugene Lee are profiled along with their clients New York Mets’ pitcher Johan Santana and NFL hopefuls Jacquian Williams and Robert Hughes, prior to being drafted.
ESPN Films, creators of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning 30 for 30 film series, is airing a new film each Tuesday night through November 8. The remaining films of the new slate will air as follows:
- Tuesday, Oct. 11, 8 pm. – The Dotted Line (Morgan Spurlock/Jeremy Chilnick)
- Tuesday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. – Charismatic (Steve Michaels/Jonathan Koch)
- Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – The Real Rocky (Jeff Feuerzeig/Mike Tollin)
- Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. – Unguarded (Jonathan Hock/Philip Aromando)
- Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. – Roll Tide/War Eagle (Martin Khodabakhshian/Joe Tessitore)
**Screeners available upon request**
ESPN Films’ new slate of documentaries will be available on iTunes and Amazon.com the day after each film’s broadcast premiere and will be available on DVD shortly thereafter at major retailers. A compilation of films from the series will be available in a collectible DVD Gift Set this holiday season.
About ESPN Films
Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing compelling sports stories. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series. Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. Additional projects from ESPN Films include, among others, the critically acclaimed and Television Academy Honor-winning 16th Man, Cannes Film Festival official selection The Two Escobars, and the Peabody Award-winning Black Magic. Catching Hell, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, and Renée, from filmmaker Eric Drath, are featured in the latest ESPN Films series airing this fall.
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