Screen Dreams Come True 

While most kids read books, young Kevin Costello buried his nose in screenplays. There, in the pages of popular movies, his aspirations of becoming a screenwriter began to bloom. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2007 with a degree in journalism and professional writing, he packed his bags for Los Angeles, determined to break into the industry despite having no connections.

He applied for countless internships before landing a role as an assistant to independent producer Jennifer Klein and screenwriter Sheldon Turner. Between scheduling meetings and reading scripts, he absorbed everything he could about development, all while writing his own material late into the night. 

Kevin’s persistence paid off when one of his scripts caught the attention of Klein and Turner. “That project didn’t actually materialize but it did lead to me being represented by an agent and manager,” Kevin said. “This really gave me a foot in the door.”

His first real break came with a rewrite for Universal, earning him a place in the Writers Guild of America in 2011, followed by his premier project with longtime friend Kyle Mooney, the 2017 film “Brigsby Bear.” 

Produced by The Lonely Island, the film premiered at Sundance and was later picked up by Sony Pictures Classics, even making its way to Cannes. That success opened more doors, leading to work on “Tom and Jerry” (2021) and, most recently, “The Day the Earth Blew Up, a Looney Tunes Movie” starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, released last month on March 14th.

His love for film started in high school, where he spent hours studying scripts from movies he admired, teaching himself formatting before online resources were available. Encouraged by OU professors like industry pro Lou Berney, he realized that while screenwriting seemed like an impossible dream, it was one worth pursuing. “There’s so much luck and timing in this business,” he said, diverting from the obvious: It takes talent, and he has it.

Screenwriting, Kevin admits, takes a different kind of creativity. “You have to see how it will all play out in your head,” he explained. “Unlike a novel, or some literary piece, there’s no place for internal monologue, or thoughts. You have to think in plain visual terms like what is the camera looking at? How does it transition? It’s all in the present tense.”

The job doesn’t end once an idea is put to paper. Then, it has to be sold. “There is a traveling salesman element to the work,” Kevin said. “It’s interesting because I spend so much time alone, writing, then I have to go get other people on board. I have to make sure the people I’m pitching it to can see the vision too.”

Despite the demands of Hollywood, he remains grounded. A husband and father, he balances the industry’s unpredictability with the stability of family life. When wildfires recently threatened his neighborhood, he felt lucky his home was spared but saw firsthand the devastation many friends endured. “I’ve found that the best way to help is to donate directly to those affected,” he said, urging support for GoFundMe campaigns aiding those who lost everything.

Now, with more than 15 years in the industry, he reflects on the journey that brought him here. “The late nights, the near-misses, the projects that never saw the light of day—it was all worth it.” His advice to aspiring writers? “Read everything. Take risks. Keep writing. You never know which opportunity will change everything.”