| I knew I wanted to be a screenwriter........
When I saw "The Poseidon Adventure"
with my dad, I knew I had to write movies. I just had to. When I was left home
alone sick, I would act out the entire movie from memory. At one point, I even
tried to remake it with my best friends. Guess who wrote the script!?! Damn
right it was me.
I know I've succeeded........
When I am sitting with my wife and
kids in a theater watching a movie that I wrote, but don't recognize a single
word because everything was changed by the director, producer and studio!
My inspiration to write
BRIDEZILLA VS DEER.......
Came from my wife. Thanks Sharla! She's always
had knack for comedic gags. After we were married at a place in Connecticut
called The Spinning Wheel Inn, she said, " Wouldn't it be funny if a deer ran
through, knocked out the priest (I'm Catholic) and rabbi (she's Jewish) out,
stepped on the glass and ran off into the woods with a ring on its antler?"
She wondered if the deer would be legally married to her. No, she doesn't do
drugs.
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FilmMakers
Magazine:
What inspired you to write?
Colin Costello: Since I was five, putting on plays for
neighborhood kids, I have always wanted to write. My mom, God rest her
soul, took credit for my desire to write. My dad, God rest his soul,
also took credit for it. I'll give props to both of them. They were
both published academic authors. I will also credit my advertising
career. I was fortunate to meet and work with great directors and
writers such as Maya Angelou, Marcus Nispel, Spike Lee, Michael Bay,
Ridley Scott, Paul Haggis, Tim Burton, Steve Beck, Pam Thomas, Jan
DeBont and Lloyd Stein.
FilmMakers Magazine: What did you do to prepare yourself to write your first script?
Colin Costello:
Wow, that was scary.
I was so not prepared. I had been in advertising for about 10 years
and had written some notable campaigns for Gatorade, Sunkist, Finish
Line, Showtime and McDonald's. I also worked with Spike Lee for a
year. But I never took a formal screenwriting course. My wife took the
screenwriting courses. I don't recommend this route!
FilmMakers Magazine: Is this your first script and how long did it take you to complete?
Colin Costello:
No. This was actually the third script I wrote. But it was my first
comedy. I actually wrote the first draft about five or six years ago.
And after I'd finish a new spec, I would come back to it. I guess I
always wanted to make it the best it could be for my wife.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you have a set routine, place and time management for writing?
Colin Costello:
Yes. I'm a morning person. I like to get up and let out our Old
English Sheepdog, Krypto. Check out what Robin Meade is wearing on
"Headline News." Yep, I'm crushing heavily on her. And then I like to
write from about 7 to 12. Sometimes at home. Sometimes at Caribou
Coffee. Free Internet. I try to never write on the weekends. That's
reserved for wifey and my daughters, Chloe and Max.
FilmMakers Magazine: Do you believe screenplay contests are important for aspiring
screenwriters and why?
Colin Costello:
Yes, I do. I think contests are a way of getting some reactions to
your script from an impartial party. Plus, if you do well, it can
build your confidence. Hell, we're writers. We need all the
confidence-building we can get. And of course if you don't live in LA,
it's an awesome way to get producers and agents to notice your script
and writing talents.
FilmMakers Magazine: What influenced you to enter the
FilmMakers International Screenwriting Awards?
Colin Costello:
Two very good writer friends of mine -- Yvonne Borgogni and Anita
Justice Skibski -- did very well in previous Filmmaker contests. I
respect both of their writing styles, so I wanted to see how I would
do.
FilmMakers Magazine: What script would you urge aspiring writers to read and why?
Colin Costello:
Wow, there are so many. I just read "Brad Cutter Ruined My Life Again"
by Joe Nussbaum. Really funny. Anything by Frank Darabont. Oh, I know
-- I just read "Jonny Quest" by Dan Mazeau. If you're writing
superhero, I would take a look at what David Goyer did for "Batman
Begins" and what Christopher and Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer did
for "The Dark Knight." And Alvin Sargent worked miracles for Spider-
Man 2. Oh, and there's this other guy... um... Colin Costello. I
really recommend reading anything by him!
FilmMakers Magazine: Beside screenwriting what are you passionate about and why?
Colin Costello:
Well, I'm born and raised in Philly. Although I live in Chicago, love
for your Philly teams never dies. I love my Phillies, Eagles, Sixers
and Flyers. I'm also crazy in love with my two daughters. They are the
coolest girls on this planet we call "Earth." And I'm passionate of
course about movies. I do like to go running with my wife.
FilmMakers Magazine: Who is your favorite Screenwriter
and Why?
Colin Costello:
For a long time it was Ernest Lehman. What he did for "Black Sunday"
(along with Kenneth Ross and Ivan Moffit) helped make it my favorite
all-time movie for decades... until "The Lord of The Rings" came out.
Also check out his work on "West Side Story," "The Sound of Music" and
"Family Plot." I always found his lines to be short -- nothing
earth-shattering -- but with so much meaning.
FilmMakers Magazine: Name the director you would love to work with and why?
Colin Costello:
I would love to work with Peter Jackson. I'm a huge fan of "Lord of
The Rings" and "King Kong." To me, Peter Jackson has the imagination
of a child. His take on the worlds he creates is filled with wonder
and awe. I'd love to write a Superman script for him.
FilmMakers
Magazine: Name the actor you would love to work with and why?
Colin Costello:
I have enormous respect for Bruce Willis. He always makes his
characters -- even if they only appear for a scene or two --
memorable. And I'd also like to work with Anne Hathaway. She's hot.
FilmMakers Magazine: Any tips and things learned along the way to pass on to others?
Colin Costello:
Be flexible. Listen. The screenwriting process is a group
process. It starts with you but ends with a cast of thousands.
The more you are willing to play with others, the more they
will be willing to play with you. In addition, form a network.
Surround yourself with friends who are going through the same
experiences as you. It's nice to have someone to bounce ideas
off of. Join a screenwriting group. There's plenty of them
around. Read lots of scripts. And watch lots of movies. If
you're in LA, visit the WGA library. It's awesome.
FilmMakers Magazine: What's next for you?
Colin Costello:
I think I will develop a new comedy with my co-writer Anne
MacIver.
FilmMakers Magazine: Where will you be five years from now?
Colin Costello:
Hopefully alive and healthy, still able to get by without
Viagra and... oh what else? Be a working screenwriter. But I'm
planning that for 2009. |
