Richard O'Sullivan (filmmaker): Difference between revisions

Richard James O'Sullivan
Richard James O'Sullivan
Born	June 10, 1968 (age 56); Spartanburg, South Carolina USA
Occupation(s)	Screenwriter,; Film director,; Film producer,; Actor
Website	http://www.lostcolonyentertainment.com/

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Revision as of 02:35, 24 January 2012

Richard O'Sullivan (born Richard James O'Sullivan, June 10, 1968) is an American screenwriter, director, actor, producer, cinematographer, film editor, radio personality, and founder of Lost Colony Entertainment.

Film

In 2004, he directed and co-wrote the comedy feature Communication Breakdown, a film co-produced by John Edmonds Kozma (producer of the Nick Cassavetes' film Kentucky Rhapsody).

In November 2009, it was reported by such media outlets as ABC News, IMDb.com and PopCrunch.com that Lindsay Lohan was in talks to play the lead in the O'Sullivan-scripted "One Night With You." Lohan later told GossipCop.com that she hadn't yet been offered the role. After almost two years of attempting to launch the project as a vehicle for the troubled Lohan, O'Sullivan announced that he was attaching newcomer Castille Landon in the role.

In 2011, it was announced that Dale Alexander Carnegie (executive producer of 2010's "Clash of the Titans" remake, which grossed some $500 million worldwide) would produce a dark comedy/horror film written and directed by O'Sullivan called "Hallows," as well as a crime drama developed by O'Sullivan called "Crossface" about Chris Benoit, the wrestler who killed his wife and young son before hanging himself in 2007. "Crossface," which O'Sullivan serves on as a producer, is based on the book "Ring of Hell" by Matthew Randazzo V (creator of the Fox TV series "Breakshot," produced by Oscar winner Robert Moresco, of "Million Dollar Baby" and "Crash" fame). On January 17, 2012, actor Liam Neeson denied that he was in talks to play wrestling promoter Vincent Kennedy McMahon in "Crossface."

Also in 2011, O'Sullivan optioned the Random House novel The Wizard of Seattle, written by New York Times best-selling author Kay Hooper, and the acclaimed novel She-Rain by 27-time Emmy winner and national Edward R. Murrow recipient Michael Cogdill (whose work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, MSNBC, CNBC, and CNN).

In 2012, O'Sullivan went into production on "The Genesis of Lincoln," a film based very loosely on the book of the same name by James Harrison Cathey, which claims that Abraham Lincoln wasn't born in a Kentucky log cabin, but was, in fact, the illegitimate son of a North Carolina cattle rancher. The film made headlines when controversial actor Doug Hutchison ("The Green Mile," "Lost," "24," "The X-Files") dropped out of the film over concerns that people would confuse his character (a filmmaker who has sexual relations with a 16-year-old pop star) with his real-life persona (he married 16-year-old pop singer Courtney Stodden that same year).

Television

O'Sullivan began his career in television writing scripts for the NBC television network's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning The More You Know series (writing PSA's for such stars as David Schwimmer, Goran Visnjic, Sharif Atkins, Christopher Meloni, Brittany Snow, and Donald Trump).

In 2009, he shot numerous segments for the NBC Universal, Inc.-owned digital channel, New York Nonstop, and for the New York Yankees' YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network). O'Sullivan also shot footage on former WBA junior welterweight champion Vivian Harris' boxing comeback for a syndicated reality series.

Awards

In 2004, O'Sullivan's campaign for The More You Know, which focused on family communication and cultural diversity, garnered NBC numerous honors, including a Promax Award and a Lambda Legal Liberty Award.

Controversy

In 2003, a spec script O'Sullivan had written as sample material for an unnamed science-fiction producer (and which contained characters from Joss Whedon's shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) was leaked to the web site Ain't It Cool News. In an article written by AICN writer Hercules, it was speculated that the O'Sullivan script was the season opener to the fifth season of the Joss Whedon TV series, Angel. This was met with quick denials from both O'Sullivan and Whedon. O'Sullivan later lambasted AICN owner Harry Knowles for the article in an interview with the Texas-based newspaper The Austin Chronicle, accusing the site of stealing his intellectual property.

In 2009, O'Sullivan became embroiled in a public war of words with pro wrestler-turned-author Mick Foley (who managed to land several books on The New York Times best sellers list) after Foley pulled out of a situation comedy that O'Sullivan was co-producing. In an interview with Mike Mooneyham of the Post and Courier, a Charleston, South Carolina newspaper, O'Sullivan said "I'll never disparage him for his hard work and dedication in wrestling. And deep down, he's probably not a horrible person. But he handled this situation very badly, was utterly selfish and disrespectful to people who were busting their (behinds) for him, and I don't have much respect for him at this point."