MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Colin Costello

An interview with screenwriter Colin Costello regarding the Horror/Sci-Fi Writing Competition.

A: Sleep Tight is a horror movie, with elements of comedy, that looks at what happens when a serene small town is infested with mutated bed bugs.

A: Sleep Tight has had an interesting life. It was the second script I ever wrote and finished as a finalist in Scriptapalooza back in 2001. It was called Bed Bugs then. In between being optioned (twice) and attached (twice) I have re-written Sleep Tight and hopefully made it better. I have also entered it in other contests such as Screamfest (as Bed Bugs), Horror Fest, Hollywood's Next Success. It always did well, but was a finalist. Then I rewrote it again, when it was optioned. And now I think it's the best it has ever been. It finished 3rd at the International Horror and Sci Fi Fest. And it was a finalist (again) at The Terror Film Fest.

I decided to focus my horror scripts on the horror fests. These are where the real fans and judges are.

A: Overall, I was very satisfied with the way the contests have been run. They all have their hiccups, but at the end of the day I can't complain.

A: Not really. I mean with the International award, the top 3 scripts go to Lion's Gate. So I think that's feedback enough.

A: We will see. It makes my manager feel like a proud poppa.

A: I started off in advertising. Did it for many many years. And I had the opportunity to meet and work with lots of amazing people - Spike Lee, Maya Angelou, Steve Beck, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay, Jan DeBont, Tim Burton, Marcus Nispel, Lloyd Stein. They all felt I was a promising writer and egged me on to write.

So I finally said good-bye to the ad world and tried the daunting task of breaking into features. My first film A Miami Tail was released to DVD in 2003. It's dreadful. I felt the producers gutted it and cast actors who couldn't act. But at the end of the day, my fourth script became a movie. It's a credit. And it just gives me a little more leverage in pitch meetings.

A: I live in Chicago. But LA is my second home. If I can get some more projects going then yes I would load the car and move to Beverly. Hills that is.

A: I never stop working. I recently finished a write for hire - a period horror movie based on a legend. And I have just finished a new spec. A superhero comedy with hot chicks. My two favorite things on the planet! Next I am going to co-write a dramatic sports spec and then a zombie spec. And then next year, I plan to rewrite some of my deceased co-writer's specs and try to market them for him.

Of course if my manager sells something or gets me a new assignment all of that gets put on the back burner.

And finally, I just want to enjoy a nice long winter with my baby girls and wife. And our new dog, Krypto.

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007