Exclusive Interview: Connor Esterson Takes Us Behind the Scenes of His Feature Writing Debut, ‘Little Wiseguy’

Connor Esterson is one of the industry’s brightest young stars. From his breakout performances in Spy Kids: Armageddon to Chad to Quantum Leap, Connor has consistently captivated audiences with his talent and versatility.

Now, he’s adding writer to his resume with his feature Little Wiseguy, which is described as Home Alone meets The Godfather.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to talk to Connor about this exciting milestone and his thriving career.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling and the arts?
Connor: My acting journey was actually sparked by my fascination with a diaper commercial when I was five years old. I know it sounds weird, but there was something about those dancing babies that ignited an immediate passion for the arts. I ran straight to my dad and said, “I want do that!” I’m a big kid now.

While acting is my first love and I’ll never leave it behind, my passion for writing started during the strike last year. It was a great way to satisfy my creativity and boredom. The thought of writing a story that could possibly become a huge franchise is so exciting.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Connor: Robert Rodriguez has had the biggest influence on my career so far. Not only did he give me my first big role, but he also taught me the importance of a strong work ethic. He’s incredibly awesome and so much fun to work with. He’s involved in every aspect of the movies he directs, writes, and films. His work ethic is unbeatable. I aspire to be more like him in many ways, such as being a better cook, photographer, writer, director, producer, and musician. Like him, I want to do it all, and I want to do it all well.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Connor: Seeing my face on a billboard on Sunset Boulevard has got to be one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me. It was last year, right before the release of Spy Kids: Armageddon. My family and I were driving down the strip, and there it was my big face looking right back at us from about 60 feet above. I read somewhere that there are about 90 billboards that line the 1.6-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard. And I was on one of them! How cool is that? And then seeing another billboard with my face on it, just a few blocks away, plastered on the walls of the Netflix headquarters in Hollywood.

PC: You’re working on your first feature film as a writer. What can you tell us about Little Wiseguy? What can audiences expect?
Connor: Home Alone meets The Godfather is how I like to describe it, though I’ll admit I’ve never seen Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster epic. I’m only ten! However, the movie centers around a twelve-year-old boy who befriends a new neighbor, an ex-mobster, while navigating the pressures of middle school and being raised by a single mother.

As for what the audience can expect? That’s simple. A really good time! I want to create a movie that people talk about years from now.

PC: You’re working with George Gallo and Nick Vallelonga on your first feature as a writer. What has it been like getting to collaborate with them? What have you learned from them?
Connor: It’s been a thrilling journey. The opportunity to work alongside such legendary filmmakers as Nick and George is like a dream come true. There’s great energy amongst the three of us, and we can’t wait to bring this story to life.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from them is that the right partnerships are critical to success. Filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you can never make a film by yourself.

PC: As you’ve been penning this script, is the plan also to star in it and possibly direct it?
Connor: I’m having a ton of fun working on Little Wiseguy. I do plan to star in this film, but I don’t expect to star in every film that I write. George Gallo will direct this film. I just plan on shadowing him and learning as much as possible.

PC: Outside of Little Wiseguy, what’s next for you?
Connor: You can see me in the upcoming movie Santa’s Chair. It’s a family story with a lot of heart that centers around a troubled, colorblind girl who makes a Santa Chair that grants wishes for others to save her mom’s tiny mountain town café from closing before Christmas. I’m also scheduled to shoot an untitled film in May. It’s a cool script; a modern twist on Bigfoot. The film shoots in North Carolina. I love to shoot on location. My dream role would be to play Spiderman. After all, the webbed wonder did come to my fifth birthday party. [laughs]

Aside from that, I’m always on the lookout for my next big onscreen role. I want to continue to make films that people can connect to and learn from. One of my other main goals is to transition from the acting world to behind the camera as a director.

In the meantime, I’m also an aspiring entrepreneur and founder of Brainstorm Supply Company, an online store that offers a wide variety of backpacks and other accessories for kids of all ages. Check it out!

To keep up with Connor, follow him on Instagram.