Kevin Sullivan (producer)
Kevin Roderick Sullivan (born c. 1955) is a Canadian producer and director of film and television programs.
Kevin Sullivan began his filmmaking career at an early age of 24. His first foray into filmmaking was with a half-hour Hans Christian Andersen Christmas special titled The Fir Tree (1979) in which he edited and also had a small acting role.[1] From there Sullivan wrote, produced and directed the docu-drama Kreighoff (1979), a widely-acclaimed drama on the life of the prominent illustrator of 19th century Quebec. He wrote, produced and directed Megan Carey (1980), a film about a young Irish immigrant indentured on a farm in 19th century Canada. His first feature film was The Wild Pony (1982), a turning point for Sullivan, but also the first feature-length movie to be made exclusively for pay-TV in Canada. In 1984, he purchased the rights to Anne of Green Gables and completed the four-hour miniseries in 1985.
Sullivan graduated from the University of Toronto in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. That year, he founded Sullivan Entertainment with Trudy Grant[2] (to whom he is now married).[3] During this time, he also pursued an interest in Art History and Baroque Architecture[citation needed] and spent several months pursuing field studies in Austria and Bavaria.[citation needed] This interest in the 18th century most recently inspired his desire to create a contemporary feature film of Mozart’s classic opera The Magic Flute, entitled Magic Flute Diaries.[4][citation needed]
Over his career, Sullivan has won three Emmy Awards,[5] and his films have been screened in over 150 countries. Sullivan is also the author of Beyond Green Gables, a behind-the-scenes look at the production design and inspiration for his films. Sullivan also was involved in a lawsuit with the heirs of Lucy Maud Montgomery, bringing them to court on a $55 Million defamation suit after they claimed he withheld royalties owed to the heirs.[6][7][8] The Court stated: It is not clear from a legal point of view why permission from the heirs of the author or its related entity the Anne of Green Gables Licensing (AGGLA) authority was necessary.[9]
Contents |
[edit] Selected filmography
[edit] Director
- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (film, 2008)
- Magic Flute Diaries (film, 2008)
- The Piano Man’s Daughter (film, 2003)
- Anne, Journey to Green Gables (animated film, 2002)
- Lantern Hill (film, 1990)
- Looking for Miracles (film, 1989)
- Anne of Avonlea (film 1987)
- Anne of Green Gables (film, 1985)
- The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
- Krieghoff (film, 1981)
- The Fir Tree (film 1980)
[edit] Executive Producer
- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (film, 2008)
- Mozart Decoded (film, 2008)
- Magic Flute Diaries (film, 2008)
- The Piano Man’s Daughter (film, 2003)
- Wind at My Back Christmas (film, 2001)
- Anne, Journey to Green Gables (animated film, 2002)
- P.R. (film, 2001)
- P.R. (Television Series, 2001)
- Super Rupert (Television Series, 2001)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (film, 2000)
- Anne: The Animated Series (Television Series, 1999)
- Seasons of Love (film, 1999)
- Sleeping Dogs Lie (film, 1998)
- Happy Christmas Miss King (film, 1998)
- Promise the Moon (film, 1997)
- Wind at My Back (Television Series, 1996–2000)
- Under the Piano (film, 1995)
- Butterbox Babies (film, 1995)
- By Way of the Stars (film, 1992)
- Lantern Hill (film, 1990)
- Looking for Miracles (film, 1990)
- Road to Avonlea (Television Series, 1989–1996)
- Anne of Avonlea (film, 1987)
- Anne of Green Gables (film, 1985)
- The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
[edit] Writer
- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (film, 2008)
- Mozart Decoded (film, 2008)
- Magic Flute Diaries (film, 2008)
- The Piano Man’s Daughter (film, 2003)
- Anne, Journey to Green Gables (film, 2002)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (film, 2000)
- Promise the Moon (film, 1997)
- Wind at My Back (Television series 1996–2000)
- Road to Avonlea (Television series 1989 -1996)
- Lantern Hill (film, 1990)
- Looking for Miracles (film, 1989)[10]
- Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (film, 1987)
- Anne of Green Gables (film, 1985)
- The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
[edit] List of Awards
- George Foster Peabody Award
- 3 Emmy Awards
- 6 Emmy Award Nominations
- 5 Gemini Awards
- 8 Gemini Award Nominations
- 3 CableACE Awards
- 2 CableACE Nominations
- Prix Jeunesse
- TV Guide Parent’s Choice Award
- American TV Critics Award
- 3 Golden Apple Awards from the National Educational Media Competition
- 1 Ollie Award
- European Jury Prize at the Umbriafiction TV Festival
- Gold World Medal – New York Film Festival
- Golden Gate Award
- Gold Medal – New York International Film and Television Festival
- ACT Award
- Best Children’s Production – Television Movie Awards
[edit] References
- ^ "The Fir Tree (1979) - Full cast and crew". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289949/fullcredits. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ "Academy Award-Winning Actress Shirley MacLaine joins the cast of CTV's Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning". CTV News. October 23, 2007. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20071022/ctv_release_20071023/20071023.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838195/bio
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834927/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838195/awards
- ^ Judge throws out case against Montgomery's heirs, The Globe and Mail, January 20, 2004
- ^ Sullivan Entertainment Group Inc. v. MacDonald Butler, 2004 CanLII 8939 (ON S.C.)
- ^ The case can be found here.
- ^ Japanese court decision
- ^ John J. O'Connor (June 2, 1989). "TV Weekend; A Coming-of-Age Film and Martin Short". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D81131F931A35755C0A96F948260.
- ^ Kevin Sullivan Awards, IMDB
- Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Volume 50 (2003)
