Circle Pictures is an independent
television and film production company
specializing in long-form drama that embraces the ethos of stories with purpose.
Founded by two friends with distinct but complementary experience who have worked together for the last few decades, they share a commitment to storytelling that not only entertains but also inspires, engaging with the deeper issues that shape our lives, and that of the world in which we all live.
This transatlantic partnership is led by Jere Sullivan in the U.S. who has spent his career in the international public relations and government affairs sector working at the highest levels with international corporations, sovereign governments, civil society and
multilateral institutions to create innovative and meaningful programs that connect and influence key stakeholder groups.
His colleague, UK-based Stewart Mackinnon is a distinguished drama producer with a track record of working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and actors resulting in award-winning work across Europe and the US, including the landmark 40-hour Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, a cornerstone of the platform’s original slate and winner of two Primetime Emmys. His other credits include Quartet (Golden Globe
nominee, directed by Dustin Hoffman), The Invisible Woman (Oscar nominee, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes), Heavy Water War (Prix Italia winner), and Peter and Wendy (Emmy Award winner, starring Stanley Tucci). They bring an understanding of storytelling from two different but complementary perspectives to reach a global audience with dramas that entertain and inspire – doing it with integrity, and producing the kind of work that stays with you and makes a difference.
Our Services
Development
Our development slate includes stories that span a range of critical global issues, from nuclear disarmament and racial justice to dementia. With a track record that includes developing work for platforms such as Amazon and the BBC, we know there’s a world audience for drama that speak to universal concerns while remaining rooted in everyday lives and lived experience.
Collaboration
We co-produce with partners across Europe and the U.S and also work with established producers who are looking to expand into new markets.
Our support can involve:
• Script and Creative Development
• Talent Engagement
• Industry Insight and Strategic Planning
• Rights and Adaptation Guidance
• Technical and Subject-Matter Expertise
• Production and Workflow Consulting
• Tax Incentive and Finance Navigation
Advocacy
Drawing on our diverse but complementary areas of expertise, we work with partners and organizations who recognize how drama can contribute to important conversations on critical global issues. By using our projects as advocacy platforms we are able to amplify and leverage our stories with who ultimately can influence change.
Our services in this area include:
• Strategic Messaging and Brand Alignment
• Targeted Media Outreach and Opinion Editorials
• Premiere Promotions Aligned with Story Themes
• Social and Digital Engagement
• Awards Strategy and Industry Visibility
• Strategic Positioning Around Global Themes
• High-Level Networking and Partnerships
• Bespoke Programming at International and Multilateral Events
Our Team
Stewart Mackinnon
Co-Founder and CEO Circle Pictures Stewart has a distinguished track record as a drama producer with over four decades of experience, producing award winning film and television for the global market. He developed and produced some of the most iconic award-winning drama including his 40 hour long Amazon series Man In The High Castle which has become the cornerstone of the streaming network’s line-up, winner of two Primetime Emmys and many other awards.
Quartet Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut and Golden Globe nominee, The Miners Tapes winner of the Grierson Award, This Little Life BAFTA nominated and winner of the Dennis Potter, BANFF and RTS awards, The Invisible Woman Oscar nominated, starring and directed by Ralph Fiennes, Heavy Water War (Saboteurs) the Prix Italia winning series, and the Emmy Award winning Peter and Wendy starring Stanley Tucci and Paloma Faith.
Stewart has partnered with leading media organisations including BBC Drama, BBC Films, HBO, ITV, ITV Global Entertainment, Fremantle, Channel 4, Film 4, A&E, ZDF, NRK, Sky Atlantic, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony Entertainment, Lionsgate, Red Arrow, E-One, Catalyst, Edelman, and Participant Media. He also has had the pleasure of working with some of the most distinguished producers, writers, directors and actors including David Thompson, Polly Hill, Len Amato, Sir Ronald Harwood, Trevor Griffiths, Adrian Hodges, Howard Brenton, Jed Mercurio, Michael Hirst, Frank Spotnitz, David Zucker, Eric Oleson, Eric Overmyer, David Semel, Abi Morgan, Ian Martin, Georgia Pritchett, Sir Ridley Scott, Mike Newell, Edward Berger, Dan Percival, Diarmuid Laurence, Sarah Gavron, Adrian Shergold, Dustin Hoffman, Pierce Brosnan, Rupert Sewell, Michael Douglas, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sheridan Smith, Tom Hollander, Dame Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon and Felicity Jones
Jere Sullivan
Co-Founder and President of Circle Pictures is also an international public affairs consultant who has supported leading international corporations, major trade associations and sovereign governments over his 30 years living and working in political capitals from Washington, D.C. to Brussels. For his clients he has successfully organized global events, managed major crises, and successfully helped tell their stories in the media as part of multi-faceted public affairs programs.
Jere Sullivan has spent over three decades working in international public relations and government affairs supporting some of the most prestigious companies, sovereign governments, NGOs and multilateral organizations in telling their stories. As Chairman of International Public Affairs for Edelman, the world’s largest communications firm, he lived and worked in the world’s most influential political capitals from Washington, D.C. to Brussels to Riyadh. He was responsible for some of the most prestigious programs over his 30+ year career that encompassed crisis and issues management, thought leadership, media relations and public affairs all aimed at advocating specific positions for his clients. In this capacity he created the Innovation Barometer, GE’s signature thought leadership platform, developed the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, a global campaign to highlight and honor the humanitarian work of individuals around the world and managed communications campaigns for the G20 in Brazil and the B20 in Saudi Arabia.
His public relations perspective brings a unique capability to Circle Pictures not only in terms of creating compelling stories on important global issues in the form of drama, but also in elevating those stories beyond the small and big screen. He does so through media relations, bespoke programs, participation in multilateral events such as the United Nations General Assembly Week and through international forums such as the World Economic Forum. His experience allows Circle Pictures to elevate their films and television projects as communications platforms to raise awareness of the stories – and their essence – to decision makers around the world.
email: info@circlepictures.co.uk
phone: +44(0)7808719887
Founded by two friends with distinct but complementary experience who have worked together for the last few decades, they share a commitment to storytelling that not only entertains but also inspires, engaging with the deeper issues that shape our lives, and that of the world in which we all live.
This transatlantic partnership is led by Jere Sullivan in the U.S. who has spent his career in the international public relations and government affairs sector working at the highest levels with international corporations, sovereign governments, civil society and multilateral institutions to create innovative and meaningful programs that connect and influence key stakeholder groups.
His colleague, UK-based Stewart Mackinnon is a distinguished drama producer with a track record of working with some of the world’s
leading writers, directors and actors resulting in award-winning work across Europe and the US, including the landmark 40-hour Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, a cornerstone of the platform’s original slate and winner of two Primetime Emmys. His other credits include Quartet (Golden Globe nominee, directed by Dustin Hoffman), The Invisible Woman (Oscar nominee, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes), Heavy Water War (Prix Italia winner), and Peter and Wendy (Emmy Award winner, starring Stanley Tucci). They bring an understanding of storytelling from two different but complementary perspectives to reach a global audience with dramas that entertain and inspire – doing it with integrity, and producing the kind of work that stays with you and makes a difference.
Development
Our development slate includes stories that span a range of critical global issues, from nuclear disarmament and racial justice to dementia. With a track record that includes developing work for platforms such as Amazon and the BBC, we know there’s a world audience for drama that speak to universal concerns while remaining rooted in everyday lives and lived experience.
Collaboration
We co-produce with partners across Europe and the U.S and also work with established producers who are looking to expand into new markets.
Our support can involve:
• Script and Creative Development
• Talent Engagement
• Industry Insight and Strategic Planning
• Rights and Adaptation Guidance
• Technical and Subject-Matter Expertise
• Production and Workflow Consulting
• Tax Incentive and Finance Navigation
Advocacy
Drawing on our diverse but complementary areas of expertise, we work with partners and organizations who recognize how drama can contribute to important conversations on critical global issues. By using our projects as advocacy platforms we are able to amplify and leverage our stories with who ultimately can influence change.
Our services in this area include:
• Strategic Messaging and Brand Alignment
• Targeted Media Outreach and Opinion Editorials
• Premiere Promotions Aligned with Story Themes
• Social and Digital Engagement
• Awards Strategy and Industry Visibility
• Strategic Positioning Around Global Themes
• High-Level Networking and Partnerships
• Bespoke Programming at International and Multilateral Events
Circle Pictures is an independent television and film production company specializing in long-form drama that embraces the ethos of stories with purpose.
Founded by two friends with distinct but complementary experience who have worked together for the last few decades, they share a commitment to storytelling that not only entertains but also inspires, engaging with the deeper issues that shape our lives, and that of the world in which we all live.
This transatlantic partnership is led by Jere Sullivan in the U.S. who has spent his career in the international public relations and government affairs sector working at the highest levels with international corporations, sovereign governments, civil society and multilateral institutions to create innovative and meaningful programs that connect and influence key stakeholder groups.
His colleague, UK-based Stewart Mackinnon is a distinguished drama producer with a track record of working with some of the world’s leading writers, directors and actors resulting in award-winning work across Europe and the US, including the landmark 40-hour Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, a cornerstone of the platform’s original slate and winner of two Primetime Emmys. His other credits include Quartet (Golden Globe nominee, directed by Dustin Hoffman), The Invisible Woman (Oscar nominee, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes), Heavy Water War (Prix Italia winner), and Peter and Wendy (Emmy Award winner, starring Stanley Tucci). They bring an understanding of storytelling from two different but complementary perspectives to reach a global audience with dramas that entertain and inspire – doing it with integrity, and producing the kind of work that stays with you and makes a difference.
Development
Our development slate includes stories that span a range of critical global issues, from nuclear disarmament and racial justice to dementia. With a track record that includes developing work for platforms such as Amazon and the BBC, we know there’s a world audience for drama that speak to universal concerns while remaining rooted in everyday lives and lived experience.
Collaboration
We co-produce with partners across Europe and the U.S and also work with established producers who are looking to expand into new markets.
Our support can involve:
• Script and Creative Development
• Talent Engagement
• Industry Insight and Strategic Planning
• Rights and Adaptation Guidance
• Technical and Subject-Matter Expertise
• Production and Workflow Consulting
• Tax Incentive and Finance Navigation
Advocacy
Drawing on our diverse but complementary areas of expertise, we work with partners and organizations who recognize how drama can contribute to important conversations on critical global issues. By using our projects as advocacy platforms we are able to amplify and leverage our stories with who ultimately can influence change.
Our services in this area include:
• Strategic Messaging and Brand Alignment
• Targeted Media Outreach and Opinion Editorials
• Premiere Promotions Aligned with Story Themes
• Social and Digital Engagement
• Awards Strategy and Industry Visibility
• Strategic Positioning Around Global Themes
• High-Level Networking and Partnerships
• Bespoke Programming at International and Multilateral Events