Directing
Shaun Costello
EN cinema · 83 credits
Born
1 January 1944
Died
5 July 2023 (aged 79)
Birthplace
The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
Also known as Russ Carlson · Lars Tobin · Eclair von Ott · Otto Von Lickit · Harry Gordon · Jack Hammer
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.
Known for
Filmography
Hymns from the Abyss
as Self (archive footage)
Popcorn
Associate Producer
Enrapture
as Cigar Shop Man
Writing for Time
Editor, Director of Photography, Director
Hot Dreams
Director, Special Effects, Production Design, Writer, Visual Effects, Producer
Heaven's Touch
Title Designer, Writer, Director, Producer, Additional Photography
Double Pleasure
1982
Double Pleasure
as (archive footage)
Mistress Electra
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited), Producer, Director, Title Designer, Writer
Pandora's Mirror
as Waiter / Man in Audition Line, Writer, Producer, Director, Production Design
Beauty
Writer, Director, Producer, Title Designer
Prisoner of Pleasure
Director, Writer
New York Construction Co.
Actor, Editor, Director, Writer
Dracula Exotica
Producer, Director, Writer
Afternoon Delights
Editor, Director, Screenplay
The Two Lives of Jennifer
as Bob O'Connor, Director, Producer, Writer
More Than Sisters
as Martin Randall, Director, Screenplay
Sunny
Producer, Writer, Director
Slave Of Pleasure
as Richard Anselm / Masked Guy, Screenplay, Producer, Director
A Taste of Bette
as S.R.
Daughters of Discipline
as Bruno, Director, Producer, Writer
Fiona on Fire
Director
Joy of Humiliation
as Biker with Cigarette
Cherry Hustlers
as Company Investigator
Schoolgirl's Reunion
as Football Announcer (voice) / Autograph Seeker / Guy at Party, Editor, Producer, Writer, Director
Betrayed Teens
as Bobby, Writer, Producer, Director
The Fire in Francesca
as Troy Winston, Director
Dirty Susan
as Bob Gilroy, Director
The Untamed Vixens
as Jerry, Producer, Writer, Director, Editor
The Fury in Alice
as Chip Carson, Writer, Producer, Director
Venture Into the Bizzare
as Closing Narration (voice)
The Summer of Suzanne
as Chip, Writer, Director
Midnight Desires
as Chauffeur / Highwayman (uncredited), Screenplay, Producer, Director, Editor
Water Power
as Police Station Cop / Man at Car Window, Director, Producer, Editor, Writer, Title Designer, Special Effects
Sensuous Fly Girls
as Man in Stable, Writer, Director, Producer
She's No Angel
as Dr. Warren Counter, Director
Tortured Woman
as El Gringo, Director
The Travails of June
as Willy, Director, Producer, Editor, Writer
The Dark Side of Danielle
as Bruce / Betty's Master, Writer, Director
That Lady from Rio
as Sex Slave (uncredited), Director, Writer
The Story of Eloise
as Edgar Frank, Producer, Writer, Editor, Director
Girl Scout Cookies
as Mr. O'Malley, Director
Dominatrix Without Mercy
Director, Writer
Cheryl's Surrender
as Ray Lavagis, Producer, Editor, Director, Writer
Private Practice
as Mr. Barnes
Two Senoritas
as Guy with Glasses, Director, Writer, Producer
China Doll
as Bert, Director, Writer
Gladys and Her All Girl Band
as Lola, Writer, Director
The School for Sexual Arts
as Guy in Final Class, Director
Sin of Lust
as Bob Hartman, Writer, Director
Lisa Meets Mr. Big
as Minister, Writer, Director
Kathy's Graduation Present
as Randy, Writer, Director
Baby Oil
as Orgy Guy with Two Girls
Hotel Hooker
as Pete, Editor, Producer, Director, Writer
The Passions of Carol
as The Spirits, Screenplay, Director, Producer, Special Effects, Editor, Main Title Designer, Visual Effects
The Joyriders
Editor, Producer, Writer, Director
The Love Bus
as George, Director, Writer
Teenage Nurses
as Joe / TV Reporter, Director, Editor, Screenplay, Producer
Come Fly with Us
as Jay Basby, Director, Editor, Writer, Producer
Pen Pals
as Good Samaritan / Man in Black, Writer, Director
Lip Service
as Hired Guy, Writer, Director
Lady on the Couch
as Poker Buddy (uncredited), Editor, Producer, Writer, Director
Forced Entry
as David, Writer, Director, Editor, Producer
The Porn Brokers
as Self
Sweet Sexteen
as Jerry, Director, Producer, Editor, Writer
The Tycoon's Daughter
as Newspaper Reader / Radio Newscaster, Director
Honeymoon Suite
as Jamie, Writer, Director
Teachers and Cream
as Mr. Boynton, Writer, Producer, Director
Ozark Sex Fiend
as Newscaster / Homer Heaply, Writer, Producer, Director
Go Fly a Kite
as John Spaulding, Producer, Writer, Director
Joe Rock Superstar
as Rock the Guitarist / Voice of Walter Cockite, Director
Tina Makes a Deal
as Customs Agent, Producer, Editor, Writer, Director
Come and Be Purified
as Brother Francis, Producer, Director
The Love Witch
Producer
Selling It
1972
Selling It
as (archive footage)
Sexual Customs in Scandinavia
as Mr. Thorens
Hell's Kitten
Director
Feel
Actor
Sensuous Vixens
as Photo Model with Mustache, Writer, Director
The Magical Ring
as First Fantasy Lover
Love in the Rain
as Shaun (uncredited)