Have you met Hollywood’s youngest screenwriter, Connor Esterson? At just 10 years old, Connor is making a huge name for himself in entertainment.
Connor’s breakout acting role came last year in the Netflix feature Spy Kids: Armageddon and he is now teaming up with Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga (Green Book) and George Gallo (Bad Boys) to develop his very first screenplay, Little Wiseguy. Connor whipped up a six-page treatment on his own during last year’s strike, which he showed to a family friend, who in turn took it to Gallo, who then shared it with Vallelonga. All agreed the idea had legs, so they began working on a script, which they’re about to pitch around town.
Little Wiseguy centers around a 12-year-old boy who befriends an aging mobster living next door, while navigating the pressures of middle school and being raised by a single mother. Connor describes the story as “Home Alone meets The Godfather,” though he admits he’s never seen Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster epic.
Check out our interview with Connor! (This interview was edited for clarity)
What inspired you to become an actor?
Connor: So this is gonna sound really silly, but actually, it was a diaper commercial. About five years ago, when I was five, I was watching my favorite show and an ad came on. It was for diaper pull ups, and I saw a bunch of kids dancing around and I’m like, ‘I want to do that.’ I went to my dad, we had a few meetings and five years later, here we are.
When you were early in your career, was there a particular moment that made you go, ‘yes, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life,’?
Connor: For my first or second audition, I auditioned for Brat TV, I think, and I booked it and I was so excited. And I’m like, ‘I booked this? I just started. I’m gonna keep doing this.’
So, with you being so young, what is your favorite part of being in this industry?
Connor: That’s a tough one. Probably the people that you get to meet and the experiences that you make. Like getting to be on a set, that is just such an awesome thing to me. Every set has a bunch of new memories, and it’s just awesome.
What’s the most challenging part of being in this industry at your age?
Connor: Oh, it’s definitely the fact that I always played younger roles, because I’m young and they always happen to be kids, and those kids obviously have families. So I have to fit in. The family has to look alike. The parents have to look like the siblings, have the same hair color and eye color. So, you can only ever book something if everything is just right.
I hear that you’ve recently turned your attention to writing what made you want to try being a writer?
Connor: My parents always told me that I had good journal entries for my diaries and stuff, and I was always detailed. So at first I tried [writing] a book… that did not work out well. Then I thought about myself and my relationships in my life and I found out my life was actually pretty cool. So, I took a few aspects, mashed them up all together, and came up with six pages of amazingness. And yeah, that’s how it all happened.
I’m glad that you said six pages because I associate that with Little Wiseguy. Is it kind of based on your life?
Connor: Yeah. Some people think my godfather is an actual Godfather, and I wanted to make a movie about how someone like him can have an impact on someone like me.
I’ve heard you call this Home Alone meets The Godfather. I was just wondering if you could explain a little bit more about what you mean by that?
Connor: So when I originally came up with that, I obviously haven’t seen The Godfather, but I wanted to make a movie with the funny and awesome scenes from Home Alone and the iconic and dramatic scenes from The Godfather. So really, what I mean by that is it’s just the best of the two combined into one.
I like it. And the title is really interesting, too. Did you come up with that title?
Connor: Oh, yes. It wasn’t the first title that I came up with. After like 30 or 40 titles that I brainstormed, I went through them all, went through them all again, and then again, and I narrowed them down until I found Little Wiseguy. So yes, I did create the name.
That’s awesome. Is that a hint at who the main character is going to be?
Connor: Maybe?
And I also hear that you get to work with some really awesome people. What’s it like working on this with Nick [Vallelonga] and George [Gallo]?
Connor: Oh, they’re both so nice. So, the first time we met was over french fries at a nice cafe in Studio City. They were so sweet. It was also my first time talking about it [Little Wiseguy]. Spoiler alert, I did not do the greatest my first time. But it was just such a great experience working with them. They’re so focused and clear. And they are just truly great storytellers. And I can tell that just by talking to them.
That’s great. You must have done something right for them to pick up on it. Now I’m not well versed in moviemaking, so I’m not sure where Little Wiseguy is at but are you going to be starring in it?
Connor: Yes, I am. I’m going to be Mike, the boy that gets influenced.
Nice! And in addition to Little Wiseguy, are there any other projects coming up for you?
Connor: Yes, actually, in June-ish, July I’m going to be doing a Bigfoot film in [North Carolina], which is going to be really awesome.
That sounds so fun.
Connor: But other than that, right now, I’m trying out voiceovers.
That’s a lot of stuff for someone of your age to be doing, what are your ultimate career goals?
Connor: It’s gonna sound a bit shallow, but I want an Oscar, maybe even two. And I want to be on the Walk of Fame. But other than that, I don’t really have many goals.
Those are great for sure. In thinking about your career, and where it’s going, you’re already working with some really awesome writers, but are there any directors or other actors that you kind of want to make it your goal to work with?
Connor: Yeah, there’s a few. I’d like to work with Steven Spielberg– he just makes blockbuster films, awesome films– Tom Holland, Adam Sandler, and Ryan Reynolds. I’d like to work with one of my good friends that I have already worked with, but I want to work with her again because she’s so amazing. Her name is Aliyah Camacho and she’s awesome. Let me think– also Timothy Chalamet!
Those are great names, for sure! You are obviously up and coming with your career and you’re someone that people are going to want to keep in touch with. Are you on social media? Where can our readers follow you?
Connor: Oh, yes. I’m on Instagram. I am @connoresterson.
