Biography
Shaun Costello began directing for "loops" (10-minute scenes shown in coin-operated viewers in adult theaters) in NYC in the early 1970s, and soon was directing (and acting in) full porn movies and other grindhouse "roughies" shown in Times Square's 42nd Street adult theaters. Costello took work where he could get it, often working for the Mob, who owned many adult theaters and distribution, and working under different aliases for different theaters so that no one (at the time) knew that he was his own competition. Eventually moving on to a mainstream documentary career, Costello written and directed grindhouse movies - rough and violent and reflecting of their times - have seen a resurgence as the 2010's have seen these movies be remastered and re-released and often seen for the first time in decades. Anyone interested in the history of American porn or grindhouse/exploitation theater of the late 1960s and 1970s will likely have encountered Shaun Costello's work, often unknowingly due to his prolific use of aliases.
Filmography
Cast Credits
Hymns from the Abyss
Character: Self (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2021
Enrapture
Character: Cigar Shop Man
MOVIE • 1990
Double Pleasure
Character: (as Russ Carlson)
MOVIE • 1982
Mistress Electra
Character: Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MOVIE • 1982
Pandora's Mirror
Character: Waiter / Man in Audition Line
MOVIE • 1981
New York Construction Co.
Character:
MOVIE • 1980
More Than Sisters
Character: Martin Randall
MOVIE • 1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Character: Bob O'Connor
MOVIE • 1979
Slave of Pleasure
Character: Richard Anselm / Masked Guy
MOVIE • 1978
A Taste Of Bette
Character: S.R.
MOVIE • 1978
Daughters of Discipline
Character: Bruno
MOVIE • 1978
The Fire in Francesca
Character: Troy Winston
MOVIE • 1977
Joy Of Humiliation
Character: Biker with Cigarette
MOVIE • 1977
Cherry Hustlers
Character: Company Investigator
MOVIE • 1977
Betrayed Teens
Character: Bobby
MOVIE • 1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Character: Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party
MOVIE • 1977
Dirty Susan
Character: Bob Gilroy
MOVIE • 1977
The Dark Side of Danielle
Character: Bruce / Betty's Master
MOVIE • 1976
Tortured Woman
Character: El Gringo
MOVIE • 1976
Water Power
Character: Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window
MOVIE • 1976
Crew
Crew Credits
Popcorn
Role: Associate Producer
MOVIE • 1991
Writing for Time
Role: Director of Photography
MOVIE • 1990
Writing for Time
Role: Editor
MOVIE • 1990
Writing for Time
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1990
Hot Dreams
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1983
Hot Dreams
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1983
Hot Dreams
Role: Special Effects
MOVIE • 1983
Hot Dreams
Role: Production Design
MOVIE • 1983
Hot Dreams
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1983
Hot Dreams
Role: Visual Effects
MOVIE • 1983
Heaven's Touch
Role: Title Designer
MOVIE • 1983
Heaven's Touch
Role: Additional Photography
MOVIE • 1983
Heaven's Touch
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1983
Heaven's Touch
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1983
Heaven's Touch
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1983
Mistress Electra
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1982
Mistress Electra
Role: Director
MOVIE • 1982
Mistress Electra
Role: Title Designer
MOVIE • 1982
Mistress Electra
Role: Producer
MOVIE • 1982
Pandora's Mirror
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1981