COLMCILLE
O’TOOLE
DONSTON
Direct with excitement, lead through creativity.
Directing actor Isabelle Fisher on the set of Rhiannon (2023). 
Final day of filming on Peace Be With You (2021) with actors Erin Malimban and Wade Gleeson Turner. 
Running rehersals for the feature film By The Grape of God (2023). 
Directing actor Johnny Holloran on the set of Candyland (2019). 
Directing the end party scene for B-Line (2022) with co-director Sebastian Martinez. 
Directing on the set of Onyx & Obsidian (2023) with Marcos Larancuent and actor, Roberta Allaman.
ABOUT MY WORK
Born eleven days before the ’90s ended and raised in the shadow of Manhattan (which is pronounced “New Jersey”), was the perfect parallel for how I often felt growing up: in a world that seemed to be my own. It wasn’t a lonely one, though, because I quickly filled it with things that creatively engaged me through their expressions of values and emotions.
Once I began vocalizing my feelings through creative works, I strived to achieve what my favorite artists did for me: take the things that felt too complicated to say aloud, and filter them through the many layers of storytelling I found comforting. This allowed me to dig into myself without self-consciousness and open up the accessibility for the interpretation of others.
THEMES
Growing pains. No matter our age or status we are always growing, and it’s always challenging.
Perfectionism. Growing up in the age of digitized exceptionalism has led many to believe anything less than “perfect” is wrong. I disagree.
Frustration with structure. “Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead” – Aldous Huxley
GENRES
I love all kinds of movies and many genres interest me, but three specific ones most stand out Science Fiction, Comedy, and Horror. I like them for a plethora of reasons such as the tight tension, rhythmic pacing, eccentric characters, specificity, etcetra. But what I most like is the challenge to find new ways they can overlap and intersect to advance the landscape of the genres and movies.
FORM
My preferred choice is feature length, but I’ve had an extensive background in short filmmaking and theater, which honed my skills as a director, especially working with actors. I have also done music video work, which I enjoy because of how present music was in my upbringing.
Regardless of the project, I like to engage and emotionally connect viewers with the work through different technical explorations such as varying camera types, contrasting scores, images, or words on the screen, and atypical pacing.
FANCY THINGS I’VE DONE
Some accolades I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve thus far in my career.
YALE UNIVERSITY THEATRICAL DIRECTING LAB
Lead by director Evan Yionoulis we studied Text, Physicality, Design, Stage Management and Direction through staged works such as The Glass Menagerie, Fefu and her Friends, and Intimate Apparel. We expanded our techniques in communicating specified visions and themes to cast and crew members during production. As well as practiced better safety measures while working on set.
BEST COMEDY SHORT AT THE SCOUT FILM FESTIVAL
My B.F.A. Thesis “Peace Be With You” was awarded the prize of Best Comedy Short, as well as nominations for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Screenplay at the 2022 Scout Film Festival. It was also selected to screen at vrious other film festivals on the East Coast such as The Boston Film Festival, Modnadnock Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival, and The New York Short Film Festival.
PERFORMANCE & THEATER HONORS
Most of my early life and career was spent acting in theater. Allowing me to study under/with some amazing theater companies such as The Public Theater of New York, The Mile Square Theater, NSLC Theater Program, ArtsEmerson and The American Repertory Theater. Their guidance has shaped me significantly as a creative, but most especially as a director and leader.
BROWN UNIVERSITY DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION COURSE
Through the guidance of visual media artist Edrix Fontelia, this is where my filmmaking career truly began. Learning the ins and outs of general video ettiquette and production. My final project for the course, “Solitaire”, went on to win Best Narrative Short at The Ramapo College Film Festival, and screened at the Golden Door Film Festival. Edrix also honored me as one of the top students in the course that year.
SEMI-FINALIST THE GOLDEN SCRIPT COMPETITION
For the feature-length, science fiction screenplay titled C.H.I.M.E.R.A. (f.k.a. Power Down) written by myself, and Marcos Larancuent. This is the highest screenwriting accolade I have received.
INDUSTRY WORK & INTERNSHIPS
I have had the pleasure to intern and work at various differnet offices in the industry expanding my knowledge of the business. Some of these offices include, Leverage Management & Entertainment, Whitaker Entertainment, Valhalla Entertainment, Entertainment Media Ventures, and The People Store.
“All art is quite useless.”
Oscar Wilde
Author of The Picture of Dorian Grey