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Screenwriter Interviews
MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Colin Costello
An interview with screenwriter Colin Costello regarding the FilmMakers Writing Competition.
Q: What's the title of the script you entered in this contest, and what's it about?A: The title of my screenplay is "Bridezilla vs. Deer." It's an off-the-wall comedy about advertising executive Jane Weinstein, who encounters more than your run-of-the-mill problems at her perfectly planned wedding.
Jane is someone who's been planning her wedding since she saw Princess Di get hitched on TV. To her, the actual ceremony is much more important than the reasons why we should really be getting married.
Right when it looks like she's about to pull off the wedding of the century, a white tail buck crashes the ceremony, knocks out the groom -- whom we all know is wrong for Jane -- and causes her $50,000 wedding band to lodge on its antler. And that's pretty much where the story takes off.
A: I had heard great things about this particular contest. On Moviebytes as well as from writer friends who I really respected.
Last year was the year of the Bridezilla for me. Starting with a best comedy nod in the 2007 Screenwriter's Expo (for which it was eventually disqualified because I made too much money), BvD has finished as a finalist in Canada's 2008 Wildsound Contest and The Beverly Hills Film Festival. It also was awarded semifinalist in the 2008 American Screenwriters Association Contest and was given an Honorable Mention in the 2007 Writers Place Contest.
A: Overall, yes. Deadlines were met. And when they weren't, emails were sent out notifying us of new dates. We just received an email detailing when prizes would be awarded.
Q: Were you given any feedback on your script? If so, did you find the feedback helpful?A: No. I won the elite award in the comedy category! That's enough for me. Actually, we are supposed to receive a one-hour consultation as one of the prizes.
Q: Has your success in this contest helped you market your script? Were you contacted by any agents, managers or producers?A: Yes, it absolutely has. Doing well in this contest has helped me gain some ground with producers and managers.
Q: What's your background? Have you written any other screenplays or television scripts?A: I spent more years than I'd like to admit to in advertising as an award-winning Creative Director. I was lucky to meet some interesting people as well as A-list directors who helped shape my writing style. I'm talking people like Maya Angelou, Spike Lee, Jan DeBont, Steve Beck, Michael Bay, Lloyd Stein, Marcus Nispel, Ridley Scott and others.
I have one movie under my belt -- "A Miami Tail." And I have one short film called "First Kiss."
A: I will move there when I have a project set up which is paying me enough!
Q: What's next? Are you working on a new script?A: I have just finished a spec superhero comedy called "Supermodels." And I'm currently ghostwriting a mini-series for a client. Then I will start a new spec comedy with my co-writer. There's a few other things up my sleeve as well.
Posted Wednesday, February 4, 2009
