Tim Sullivan (British filmmaker)
Encyclopedia
Tim Sullivan is a British film and television director and screenwriter, known for his work with Granada Television
and his feature film Jack and Sarah
(1995).
, where his father was stationed with the Royal Air Force
. He attended Clifton College
in Bristol
, England
before reading English and Law at the University of Cambridge
. While at Cambridge, Sullivan was a member of the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club
, and partnered with writer Richard Maher
on the play Klev, which ran at the Crown Theatre, Hill Place in 1978. He also supplied extras to Chariots of Fire
(1981) and became acquainted with director Hugh Hudson
, hoping to find a way into the film industry. It came to nothing, and after leaving Cambridge Sullivan began claiming unemployment benefits, before taking a summer job as a chauffeur to Anthony Andrews
on the production of Brideshead Revisited
. The producer Derek Granger learned that Sullivan was writing a screenplay with Derek Jarman
, and encouraged him to get a job as a researcher with Granada Television
.
, Sullivan and Richard Maher partnered to write their first television series, a sitcom entitled The Train Now Leaving, set in the dining carriage of an InterCity
train running between London and Manchester. Granada commissioned seven 30-minute scripts for development.
Sullivan stayed at Granada for several more years, directing episodes of series such as Busman's Holiday, Stop That Laughing at the Back, Coronation Street
and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, as well as adapting A Handful of Dust
for television (1988) and directing Thatcher: The Final Days
(1991). In 1995, Sullivan wrote and directed his first feature film, Jack and Sarah
, starring Richard E. Grant
and Samantha Mathis
. The film, which took Sullivan four years to develop, was inspired by the attention a male colleague at Granada received when his childcare arrangements broke down and he had to bring his child into work.
Into the 2000s, Sullivan worked freelance on many television and film projects, including directing the final episode of Cold Feet
for Granada, and the one-off comedy drama Catwalk Dogs
for Shed Productions
. In 2005, Sullivan was hired by DreamWorks
to write an initial script draft for Shrek 4
, though his script was abandoned by the time production on the film began.
Sullivan wrote the film Letters to Juliet
, starring Amanda Seyfried
, which was released in the United States in 2010, and has been developing a film based on the London Marathon
.
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
and his feature film Jack and Sarah
Jack and Sarah
Jack and Sarah is a 1995 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Tim Sullivan. The film was originally released in the UK on 2 June 1995.The theme song in this film is Stars by British pop group Simply Red.- Plot :...
(1995).
Background
Tim Sullivan was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where his father was stationed with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He attended Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before reading English and Law at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. While at Cambridge, Sullivan was a member of the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club
Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club
Founded in 1855, the Amateur Dramatic Club is the oldest University dramatic society in England - and the largest dramatic society in Cambridge....
, and partnered with writer Richard Maher
Richard Maher
Richard Maher is a British screenwriter and television producer who has written for Pie in the Sky and Taggart. He also co-created the ITV1 drama Making Waves, with Ted Childs.-External links:...
on the play Klev, which ran at the Crown Theatre, Hill Place in 1978. He also supplied extras to Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
(1981) and became acquainted with director Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson is an English film director. His best-known international success is the 1981 multiple Academy Award-winning film, Chariots of Fire.- Early life :...
, hoping to find a way into the film industry. It came to nothing, and after leaving Cambridge Sullivan began claiming unemployment benefits, before taking a summer job as a chauffeur to Anthony Andrews
Anthony Andrews
-Life and career:Andrews was born in London, the son of Geraldine Agnes , a dancer, and Stanley Thomas Andrews, a musical arranger and musical conductor. He grew up in the North Finchley district of London...
on the production of Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited (TV serial)
Brideshead Revisited is a 1981 British television serial produced by Granada Television for broadcast by the ITV network. The teleplay is based on Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited...
. The producer Derek Granger learned that Sullivan was writing a screenplay with Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
, and encouraged him to get a job as a researcher with Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
.
Career
After working as a researcher on the first series of AlfrescoAlfresco (TV series)
Alfresco is a British television series starring Robbie Coltrane, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Siobhan Redmond and Emma Thompson, produced by Granada Television and broadcast by ITV from May 1983 to June 1984...
, Sullivan and Richard Maher partnered to write their first television series, a sitcom entitled The Train Now Leaving, set in the dining carriage of an InterCity
InterCity (British Rail)
InterCity was introduced by British Rail in 1966 as a brand-name for its long-haul express passenger services ....
train running between London and Manchester. Granada commissioned seven 30-minute scripts for development.
Sullivan stayed at Granada for several more years, directing episodes of series such as Busman's Holiday, Stop That Laughing at the Back, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, as well as adapting A Handful of Dust
A Handful of Dust
A Handful of Dust is a novel by Evelyn Waugh published in 1934. It is included in Modern Library List of Best 20th-Century Novels, and was chosen by TIME magazine as one of the one hundred best English-language novels from 1923 to present....
for television (1988) and directing Thatcher: The Final Days
Thatcher: The Final Days
Thatcher: The Final Days is a 1991 British television film about the events surrounding the final few days of Margaret Thatcher's time as Prime Minister. It was written by Richard Maher, directed by Tim Sullivan and starred Sylvia Syms in the role of Mrs Thatcher...
(1991). In 1995, Sullivan wrote and directed his first feature film, Jack and Sarah
Jack and Sarah
Jack and Sarah is a 1995 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Tim Sullivan. The film was originally released in the UK on 2 June 1995.The theme song in this film is Stars by British pop group Simply Red.- Plot :...
, starring Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant is a Swaziland-born British actor, screenwriter and director. His most notable role came in the film Withnail and I. He holds dual British and Swazi citizenship.-Early life:...
and Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis is an American actress. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in Pump Up the Volume , opposite Christian Slater...
. The film, which took Sullivan four years to develop, was inspired by the attention a male colleague at Granada received when his childcare arrangements broke down and he had to bring his child into work.
Into the 2000s, Sullivan worked freelance on many television and film projects, including directing the final episode of Cold Feet
Cold Feet
Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the...
for Granada, and the one-off comedy drama Catwalk Dogs
Catwalk Dogs
Catwalk Dogs is a British television film written by Simon Nye and produced by Shed Productions for ITV. It stars Kris Marshall and Georgia Mackenzie and was first shown on 21 October 2007...
for Shed Productions
Shed Productions
Shed Productions, part of the Shed Media Group, is an independent UK television production company, specialising in contemporary, original drama programming and content...
. In 2005, Sullivan was hired by DreamWorks
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
to write an initial script draft for Shrek 4
Shrek Forever After
Shrek Forever After, taglined as The Final Chapter, is a 2010 animated fantasy-comedy film, and the fourth and final installment in the Shrek film series, produced by DreamWorks Animation. The film was released by Paramount Pictures in cinemas on May 20, 2010 in Russia, and on May 21 in the United...
, though his script was abandoned by the time production on the film began.
Sullivan wrote the film Letters to Juliet
Letters to Juliet
Letters to Juliet is a 2010 American romantic comedy drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael García Bernal, and Franco Nero. This was the final film of director Gary Winick before he died of brain cancer. The film was released theatrically in North America and other...
, starring Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Michelle Seyfried is an American actress, singer-songwriter and former child model. She began her career as a child model when she was 11, and at 15 began her career as an actress, starting off with uncredited roles and moving on to recurring roles on As the World Turns and All My...
, which was released in the United States in 2010, and has been developing a film based on the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
.
Filmography
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Wild Winter | Director | 1 episode of television series |
| 1985 | Hank Wangford at Strangeways | Director | Television special |
| 1985 | Our Backyard Our Backyard Our Backyard was a series for pre-school children which aired at lunchtime on ITV from August 1984 until January 1987.It was produced by Granada Television.The format was simple... |
Director | 26 episodes of television series |
| 1985 | TX | Director | 4 episodes of television series |
| 1985 | Hold Tight | Director | 1 series of television game show |
| 1986 | I Feel Fine | Director | 6 episodes of television series |
| 1986 | Busman's Holiday Busman's Holiday (game show) Busman's Holiday is a British television game show, which was produced by Granada Television and ran on the ITV network from 26 February 1985 to 28 June 1993. Its hosts over the years were Julian Pettifer, Sarah Kennedy and Elton Welsby.-Game:... |
Director | 14 episodes of television game show |
| 1987 | Stop That Laughing At The Back Stop That Laughing At The Back Stop That Laughing At The Back was a children's comedy sketch series that aired on the ITV network for one series in 1987. It was produced by Granada Television.... |
Director | 5 episodes of television series |
| 1988 | Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Director | 18 episodes of television series |
| 1988 | A Handful of Dust | Screenwriter | Television film |
| 1990–1992 | El C.I.D. El C.I.D. El C.I.D. was an ITV television series that ran for three seasons from 1990 to 1992. It starred Alfred Molina as Bernard Blake, a C.I.D. officer who takes early retirement and moves to Spain where he and his partner, John Bird, a retired records officer, keep an eye on the ex-pat community of... |
Director | 2 episodes of television series |
| 1990 | Made in Heaven | Director | 2 episodes of television series |
| 1991 | Thatcher: The Final Days Thatcher: The Final Days Thatcher: The Final Days is a 1991 British television film about the events surrounding the final few days of Margaret Thatcher's time as Prime Minister. It was written by Richard Maher, directed by Tim Sullivan and starred Sylvia Syms in the role of Mrs Thatcher... |
Director | Television film |
| 1991 | Where Angels Fear to Tread | Screenwriter | Feature film |
| 1993–1995 | The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes | Director | 3 episodes of television series |
| 1995 | Jack and Sarah Jack and Sarah Jack and Sarah is a 1995 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Tim Sullivan. The film was originally released in the UK on 2 June 1995.The theme song in this film is Stars by British pop group Simply Red.- Plot :... |
Director and screenwriter | Feature film |
| 2003 | Cold Feet Cold Feet Cold Feet is a British comedy-drama television series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. The series was created and principally written by Mike Bullen as a follow-up to his award-winning 1997 Comedy Premiere of the same name. The storyline follows three couples experiencing the... |
Director | 1 episode of television series |
| 2007 | Catwalk Dogs Catwalk Dogs Catwalk Dogs is a British television film written by Simon Nye and produced by Shed Productions for ITV. It stars Kris Marshall and Georgia Mackenzie and was first shown on 21 October 2007... |
Director | Television film |
| 2010 | Letters to Juliet Letters to Juliet Letters to Juliet is a 2010 American romantic comedy drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael García Bernal, and Franco Nero. This was the final film of director Gary Winick before he died of brain cancer. The film was released theatrically in North America and other... |
Screenwriter | Feature film |
External links
- Tim Sullivan at United Agents
- "Lights, camera, action" — Profile of Sullivan in Optima, the Fitzwilliam College alumni newsletter (p. 10).