Shaun Costello

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Biography

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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

Movies and shows, newest first

2021
Hymns from the Abyss
Movie Self (archive footage)
1991
Popcorn
Movie Associate Producer
1990
Writing for Time
Movie Director of Photography
1990
Enrapture
Movie Cigar Shop Man
1983
Hot Dreams
Movie Director
1983
Heaven's Touch
Movie Director
1982
Double Pleasure
Movie (archive footage)
1982
Mistress Electra
Movie Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1981
Pandora's Mirror
Movie Waiter / Man in Audition Line
1981
Prisoner of Pleasure
Movie Director
1981
Beauty
Movie Director
1980
Dracula Exotica
Movie Director
1980
Afternoon Delights
Movie Editor
1980
New York Construction Co.
Movie
1979
More Than Sisters
Movie Martin Randall
1979
Sunny
Movie Writer

More credits

1979
The Two Lives of Jennifer
Movie Bob O'Connor
1978
Fiona on Fire
Movie Director
1978
Slave Of Pleasure
Movie Richard Anselm / Masked Guy
1978
A Taste of Bette
Movie S.R.
1978
Daughters of Discipline
Movie Bruno
1977
The Fire in Francesca
Movie Troy Winston
1977
Joy of Humiliation
Movie Biker with Cigarette
1977
Cherry Hustlers
Movie Company Investigator
1977
Betrayed Teens
Movie Bobby
1977
Schoolgirl's Reunion
Movie Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party
1977
Dirty Susan
Movie Bob Gilroy
1976
The Dark Side of Danielle
Movie Bruce / Betty's Master
1976
Tortured Woman
Movie El Gringo
1976
Water Power
Movie Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window
1976
That Lady from Rio
Movie Sex Slave (uncredited)
1976
French Schoolgirls
Movie
1976
The Fury in Alice
Movie Chip Carson
1976
Girl Scout Cookies
Movie Mr. O'Malley
1976
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Movie Director
1976
The Story of Eloise
Movie Edgar Frank
1976
Sensuous Fly Girls
Movie Man in Stable
1976
Midnight Desires
Movie Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited)
1976
She's No Angel
Movie Dr. Warren Counter
1976
Venture Into the Bizzare
Movie Closing Narration (voice)