Kevin Sullivan (producer)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Roderick Sullivan 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. 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
(to whom he is now married). During this time, he also pursued an interest in Art History and Baroque Architecture and spent several months pursuing field studies in Austria and Bavaria. 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.
Over his career, Sullivan has won three Emmy Award
s, 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. 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.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
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
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
Christmas special titled The Fir Tree (1979) in which he edited and also had a small acting role. 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
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908. Set in 1878, it was written as fiction for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book...
and completed the four-hour miniseries in 1985.
Sullivan graduated from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. That year, he founded Sullivan Entertainment with Trudy Grant
Trudy Grant
Trudy Grant, President of Sullivan Entertainment International and COO of the Sullivan Entertainment Group, has been part of the establishment of the Canadian entertainment industry for nearly thirty years...
(to whom he is now married). During this time, he also pursued an interest in Art History and Baroque Architecture and spent several months pursuing field studies in Austria and Bavaria. 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
The Magic Flute
The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue....
, entitled Magic Flute Diaries.
Over his career, Sullivan has won three Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s, 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
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE , called "Maud" by family and friends and publicly known as L.M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908. Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success...
, bringing them to court on a $55 Million defamation suit after they claimed he withheld royalties owed to the heirs. 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.
Director
- Anne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is the fourth film in the Anne of Green Gables film series. It was released as a television film in 2008 on CTV. Before the broadcast, CTV had recently acquired the rights to the entire Anne catalogue including the 1985 miniseries.The film stars 14-year-old...
(film, 2008) - Magic Flute Diaries (film, 2008)
- The Piano Man’s Daughter (film, 2003)
- Anne, Journey to Green GablesAnne of Green Gables: The Animated SeriesAnne: The Animated Series is a half-hour animated television show produced by Sullivan Entertainment and created by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan. The series was developed for PBS and each episode contained an educational aspect. An issue or problem was woven into each show for one or...
(animated film, 2002) - Lantern HillLantern Hill (film)Lantern Hill is a 1990 television film written and directed by filmmaker Kevin Sullivan and based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery Jane of Lantern Hill. The film was co-produced by Sullivan Entertainment, the Disney Channel and CBC. The film is similar to Anne Of Green Gables, mainly because of the...
(film, 1990) - Looking for Miracles (film, 1989)
- Anne of AvonleaAnne of Avonlea (1987 film)Anne of Avonlea is a 1987 television film. It is a sequel to the 1985 Anne of Green Gables film. The film dramatizes material from several books in the eight-novel "Anne" series by L. M. Montgomery; they are Anne of Avonlea , Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars...
(film 1987) - Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables (1985 film)Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 television movie based on the novel of the same name by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The film was produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It was released theatrically in Israel, Europe and Japan.The film aired on...
(film, 1985) - The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
- Krieghoff (film, 1981)
- The Fir Tree (film 1980)
Executive Producer
- Anne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is the fourth film in the Anne of Green Gables film series. It was released as a television film in 2008 on CTV. Before the broadcast, CTV had recently acquired the rights to the entire Anne catalogue including the 1985 miniseries.The film stars 14-year-old...
(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 GablesAnne of Green Gables: The Animated SeriesAnne: The Animated Series is a half-hour animated television show produced by Sullivan Entertainment and created by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan. The series was developed for PBS and each episode contained an educational aspect. An issue or problem was woven into each show for one or...
(animated film, 2002) - P.R. (film, 2001)
- P.R. (Television Series, 2001)
- Anne: The Animated SeriesAnne of Green Gables: The Animated SeriesAnne: The Animated Series is a half-hour animated television show produced by Sullivan Entertainment and created by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan. The series was developed for PBS and each episode contained an educational aspect. An issue or problem was woven into each show for one or...
(Television Series 2001) - Super Rupert (Television Series, 2001)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing StoryAnne of Green Gables: The Continuing StoryAnne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story was a 2000 television mini-series that was highly anticipated among fans of Anne of Green Gables. It borrowed characters from the Anne of Green Gables novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery but not actual plot lines. Instead it served as a sequel to two...
(film, 2000) - Seasons of Love (film, 1999)
- Sleeping Dogs LieSleeping Dogs Lie (1998 film)Sleeping Dogs Lie is a 1998 film produced by Sullivan Entertainment and based on the true-life story of Ambrose Small, a Toronto millionaire who went missing after selling his chain of burlesque theatres for $1.7 million to Loew’s movie theatres. The film is inspired by the book The Strange Case of...
(film, 1998) - Happy Christmas Miss King (film, 1998)
- Promise the MoonPromise the MoonPromise the Moon is a 1997 film by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan and is based on the book "The Four Arrows Fe-As-Ko" by Randall Beth Platt. The script was adapted by Kevin Sullivan and Peter Behrens...
(film, 1997) - Wind at My BackWind at My BackWind at My Back is a television series which aired in Canada on CBC Television between 1996 and 2001. It was created and produced by Kevin Sullivan, best known for his adaptation of Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea...
(Television Series, 1996–2000) - Under the PianoUnder the PianoUnder the Piano is a 1995 television film directed by Stefan Scaini and features Kevin Sullivan as executive producer. The film follows the story of one woman’s overwhelming faith in her talented but emotionally defenceless sister. The film starred Megan Follows and Amanda Plummer as the sisters...
(film, 1995) - Butterbox BabiesButterbox BabiesButterbox Babies is a 1992 book by Bette L. Cahill describing life in the 1930s at the Ideal Maternity Home in East Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada.- Overview :...
(film, 1995) - By Way of the Stars (film, 1992)
- Lantern HillLantern Hill (film)Lantern Hill is a 1990 television film written and directed by filmmaker Kevin Sullivan and based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery Jane of Lantern Hill. The film was co-produced by Sullivan Entertainment, the Disney Channel and CBC. The film is similar to Anne Of Green Gables, mainly because of the...
(film, 1990) - Looking for MiraclesLooking for MiraclesLooking for Miracles is a movie based on the memoir "Looking for Miracles" by A.E. Hotchner - Paul Newman's long-time business partner for "Newman's Own" brand and next-door neighbor in Connecticut. The film was adapted and directed by Anne of Green Gables writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan.In...
(film, 1990) - Road to AvonleaRoad to AvonleaRoad to Avonlea was a television series which was first broadcast in Canada and the United States between 1990 and 1996. It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films in association with CBC and the Disney Channel, with additional funding from Telefilm Canada.It was adapted from...
(Television Series, 1989–1996) - Anne of AvonleaAnne of Avonlea (1987 film)Anne of Avonlea is a 1987 television film. It is a sequel to the 1985 Anne of Green Gables film. The film dramatizes material from several books in the eight-novel "Anne" series by L. M. Montgomery; they are Anne of Avonlea , Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars...
(film, 1987) - Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables (1985 film)Anne of Green Gables is a 1985 television movie based on the novel of the same name by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The film was produced and directed by Kevin Sullivan for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It was released theatrically in Israel, Europe and Japan.The film aired on...
(film, 1985) - The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
Writer
- Anne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New BeginningAnne of Green Gables: A New Beginning is the fourth film in the Anne of Green Gables film series. It was released as a television film in 2008 on CTV. Before the broadcast, CTV had recently acquired the rights to the entire Anne catalogue including the 1985 miniseries.The film stars 14-year-old...
(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 StoryAnne of Green Gables: The Continuing StoryAnne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story was a 2000 television mini-series that was highly anticipated among fans of Anne of Green Gables. It borrowed characters from the Anne of Green Gables novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery but not actual plot lines. Instead it served as a sequel to two...
(film, 2000) - Promise the MoonPromise the MoonPromise the Moon is a 1997 film by writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan and is based on the book "The Four Arrows Fe-As-Ko" by Randall Beth Platt. The script was adapted by Kevin Sullivan and Peter Behrens...
(film, 1997) - Wind at My BackWind at My BackWind at My Back is a television series which aired in Canada on CBC Television between 1996 and 2001. It was created and produced by Kevin Sullivan, best known for his adaptation of Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea...
(Television series 1996–2000) - Road to AvonleaRoad to AvonleaRoad to Avonlea was a television series which was first broadcast in Canada and the United States between 1990 and 1996. It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films in association with CBC and the Disney Channel, with additional funding from Telefilm Canada.It was adapted from...
(Television series 1989 -1996) - Lantern HillLantern Hill (film)Lantern Hill is a 1990 television film written and directed by filmmaker Kevin Sullivan and based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery Jane of Lantern Hill. The film was co-produced by Sullivan Entertainment, the Disney Channel and CBC. The film is similar to Anne Of Green Gables, mainly because of the...
(film, 1990) - Looking for MiraclesLooking for MiraclesLooking for Miracles is a movie based on the memoir "Looking for Miracles" by A.E. Hotchner - Paul Newman's long-time business partner for "Newman's Own" brand and next-door neighbor in Connecticut. The film was adapted and directed by Anne of Green Gables writer/director/producer Kevin Sullivan.In...
(film, 1989) - Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (film, 1987)
- Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908. Set in 1878, it was written as fiction for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book...
(film, 1985) - The Wild Pony (film, 1982)
List of Awards
- George Foster Peabody Award
- 3 Emmy Awards
- 6 Emmy Award Nominations
- 5 Gemini Awards
- 8 Gemini Award Nominations
- 3 CableACE AwardCableACE AwardThe CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...
s - 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 AwardGolden Gate AwardGolden Gate Award may refer to:* A film award at the San Francisco International Film Festival* An award part of the GLAAD Media Awards...
- Gold Medal – New York International Film and Television Festival
- ACT Award
- Best Children’s Production – Television Movie Awards