About - Tim Sullivan

Film Director.
Screenwriter.
Novelist.

Tim Sullivan made his first short film before graduating from Cambridge University. His ambition to become a screenwriter was formed not so much by this experience but as an attempt to foil his father’s determination to turn him into a lawyer.

Within weeks of leaving university armed with a law degree Tim had met the film maker Derek Jarman and persuaded him to commission an original screenplay from him entitled “BOB UPADOWN” and so a career was born.

A few months later he joined Granada Television as a researcher. Here he was commissioned to write the first of many television scripts for the company. Two sitcoms entitled “THE TRAIN NOW LEAVING” and “THE GREASY SPOON” followed by the crime dramas “MYSTERIOUS WAYS” and “MAIGRET“.

While at Granada he was selected for the prestigious Directors’ Training scheme when only 26. Previous encumbents had included Mike Newell, Roland Joffe, and Michael Apted, more recently Julian Farino. Among other credits he directed “CORONATION STREET“, “MADE IN HEAVEN“, “THATCHER THE FINAL DAYS” and “THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES” with Jeremy Brett.

During this time he also co wrote the screenplays for the movies “A HANDFUL OF DUST” starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness and “WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD” starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, both with the legendary TV producer Derek Granger (“BRIDESHEAD REVISITED”).

Upon leaving the bosom of Granada and venturing into the wild wide world of the freelance film maker he wrote and directed the movie “JACK AND SARAH” starring Richard E Grant, Samantha Mathis, Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins.

This led to a commission from New Line Pictures to write the screenplay “WALKING PAPERS” based on the Jay Cronley novel of the same name.

This screenplay came to the attention of execs at Universal and Imagine who then asked Tim to do a page one rewrite of a western for Ron Howard entitled “THE PRETENDERS“. Tim enjoyed working with Ron for over a year on this.

He then wrote an original screenplay, “PERSONAL SHOPPING”, which was promptly snapped up by Paramount for producer Scott Rudin.

He spent four months working for and with Jeffrey Katzenberg at Dreamworks animation as a production writer on the movie “FLUSHED AWAY”. Impressed by his work Katzenberg commissioned him to write a script for “SHREK 4” which wasn’t used as a different storyline was decided upon as a director came on board.

During this time he was actively involved in British television directing the last ever ninety minute episode of the BAFTA award winning series “COLD FEET”. As well as a TV movie for ITV called “CATWALK DOGS” written by Simon Nye.

He was commissioned by the BBC to write a pilot for a TV series he invented called “BACKSTORY” as well as another pilot for the ITV network entitled “OFFSPRING”.

He also wrote “HIS MASTER’S VOICE” for the BBC as a radio play starring Rob Brydon which was broadcast in 2015.

He recently wrote the screenplay for “LETTERS TO JULIET” starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave.

Oscar winning producers of The King’s Speech, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman then commissioned an original screenplay from him entitled “THE WEDDING DRESS”.

Tim is co-wrote and co-produced “MY LITTLE PONY: A NEW GENERATION” which is now showing on Netflix and reached the number one movie slot worldwide in its first week of release.

He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross. Set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. “THE DENTIST” is in the first of a series followed by “THE CYCLIST” and “THE PATIENT”. “THE POLITICIAN” is due for publication in November 2022. Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of “THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA” and “PIONEER WOMAN”.

He is currently the UK chair of the Writers’ Guild of America (West).

Other Points of Interest

Tim is at present co-writing and co-producing an animated feature screenplay for Hasbro and Paramount.
He is the UK chair of the Writers’ Guild of America (West).
He worked for a year on Shrek 4 with Jeffrey Katzenberg before the director came on board and chose to shoot a different movie!
He also wrote "HIS MASTER’S VOICE" for the BBC as a radio play starring Rob Brydon which was broadcast in 2015.
He is the only person he knows who has played squash with the playwright Alan Bennett.
He directed and shot the only super 8 title sequence ever broadcast on ITV for the comedy programme "Stop That Laughing at the Back".
He was part of a stand up comedy duo called "Sullivan and Maw". During their act they would show super 8 films they’d made together.
In his final year at Cambridge University Tim organised the extras for the movie "Chariots of Fire".
Tim started his career as a chauffeur for the actor Anthony Andrews on "Brideshead Revisited".