Was original choice to be lead director and producer on the first season of the TV show 24 due to his visual style before being replaced by Stephen Hopkins.
Graduated in 1974 from SUNY-Buffalo, he transferred from SUNY-New Paltz originally to attend the pre-med program.
After graduating from SUNY-Buffalo he took a six-week filmmaking course at New York University-Tisch School of the Arts.
Attended film school at the University of Southern California.