Mark O’Sullivan Joins Believe Media as LA Executive Producer

Mark O’Sullivan joins Believe Media as the legendary production company’s newest West Coast Executive Producer. Mark steps into the role at the company’s LA office with a rich history of working alongside executive producers Luke Thornton and Liz Silver.

Mark has long produced within the international community, establishing a reputation as a hands-on producer that is eager to tackle the new challenges within the ever-evolving industry. He is excited to be collaborating with the caliber of Believe directors, who are known for their desire to work outside of the commercial norm with innovative, measurable results. Mark’s goal as an EP perfectly aligns with Believe’s vision, he says, “It’s always about making the most creative decisions that lift the script to the screen. Believe and I come together in our desire to push the boundaries in what is becoming an increasingly safe space for most brands.  You have to take risks to get noticed.”

The move from London to Believe’s LA office signals a career homecoming of sorts, with Mark having set up Believe’s London office in 2000. Originally from Ireland, Mark began his career at London’s top production companies before finding himself at Hungry Eye films, producing Ringan Ledwige’s first ever spot.  After some years, Mark had a marked moment of career trajectory when, at age 27, he became Senior Producer at Partizan. There, he fostered up-and-coming talent before heading to the states to produce his first feature at the age of 29.

It was upon his return to the UK that Mark met Luke Thornton and Liz Silver, joining them at The End, and producing for a list of celebrated directors that remain with Believe today, including Zack Snyder and Floria Sigismondi.  When The End closed its doors and Believe Media was born, Mark became the company’s Managing Director in Europe, helping Believe to find its foothold amongst the grade in the London film community.  One of Mark’s first producing jobs for Believe was the majorly influential campaign for European Central Bank to launch the EURO currency worldwide.

Eventually, Mark felt the calling to make more features, and so he made two films in as many years before exploring a wider range of disciplines. One such venture was founding the first branded film finance company outside of the studio system with Branded Entertainment Ltd. The company was responsible for bringing Audi into the movie business, financing the P&A as well investing in film projects. The relationship with Branded Entertainment was pivotal in strategically rebranding Audi to be the edgy and automotive trendsetter that it is today.

After the fall of the market in 07-08, Mark decided to get a crash course in finance, picking up new skills that culminated in being headhunted by a large global agency group.  Mark’s task was to help build an internal production house that would service the group and build their director’s reputations worldwide. Over the last year and a half, Mark helped open offices for the group in the UK, US, India, Warsaw and South America, with others already in process.

Mark now comes back to Believe, where his old friends Luke and Liz have established one of the world’s most influential production companies. On his return, he says, “I have long admired Luke and Liz’s tenacity and creative direction and now more than any other time, I feel the company has moved into the next exciting wave, always adapting to the market, always creatively eking out the next opportunity with stealth and determination.”