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As I was being bombarded with e-mails for potential interview opportunities at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, one that came late in the game was one I got particularly excited about. The screenwriters behind COWBOYS & ALIENS (the initial script), Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, were appearing at the show, and I was told they were available to chat with. I first met Mark and Hawk on a little movie called FIRST SNOW (2006) shot in New Mexico. My buddy Jeff Dickens was working on that film, and I had flown to New Mexico to visit him for his birthday, and in the process attended a wrap party of sorts for the film, which starred Guy Pearce and Piper Perabo, who were also in attendance. Everyone involved with that movie seemed pretty passionate about it, and after viewing the end result I can see why. FIRST SNOW is a great example of smart independent filmmaking. It’s undoubtedly low budget never hindered its expert storytelling and slick style. If you’ve never seen it, you really should. Mark Fergus actually directed the film as well. From there Mark and Hawk went on to write films like CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) and IRON MAN (2008), before their most current project COWBOYS & ALIENS. I got a chance to catch up with them at the convention, where we chatted about their writing efforts on C&A, and even touched up their next exciting gig – rebooting LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER. You won’t meet two nicer (or more humble) guys in the Hollywood industry, and I’m genuinely happy to see them have the kind of success and attention they’re receiving. Check out our interview below. I apologize in advance for the poor audio quality – you have no idea how loud it is on the show floor until you’ve been there. My thanks to Mark and Hawk for their time, and to David Roberson for setting this up.
COWBOYS & ALIENS is now playing everywhere.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
