bio

I live for adventure...

As a filmmaker, I work tirelessly to find unique, authentic stories and interesting people that take us to the far corners of our planet.   It’s a challenging concept that keeps me searching, discovering, and learning to find the truth within the idea, ultimately crafting entertaining, informative pieces of film that are equally engaging and fun as they are memorable.  As a Director, whether the idea is scripted or documentary, I pull the best performances out of my talent and experience the story through their eyes.  For me, the actor or subject is the root of the idea, and then my lens naturally explores and stylizes the atmosphere around them to paint the portrait.

As a kid, I was raised in a movie theater because my Dad was a marketing executive for a prominent theater chain.  I didn’t have babysitters – I went to the movies.  I remember those early celluloid adventures through time and space, absorbing a steady diet of Spielberg, Lucas, Ridley and Tony Scott.  I remember the way I felt…about seeing something for the very first time…and I bring that to work with me as I approach a new project.  The audience needs to not only see what we are capturing, but experience it completely.  That’s my goal.

Historically, I started my career in Hollywood with director Tony Scott.  I like to think that Tony essentially taught me how to move the camera, how to appreciate my actors, and how to lead a crew to victory.  He also instilled early on that commercials were a great way to hone my craft, explore different genres, and simply create as much as possible.  I will never forget all the times I had with him, Pete Toumasis, and Jerry Heiss on Enemy of the State and Spy Game, working constantly and tirelessly for the master in the pink hat.

From there I built my early career as a producer, working at Propaganda Films under Susanne Preissler on the commercial side of things, before moving to Hypnotic with Doug Liman and David Bartis.  At Hypnotic, I produced the very first Chrysler Million Dollar Film Festival along with the now legendary Terry Tate Office Linebacker for director Rawson Thurber.

Music videos were my initial entrance into directing full time.  As my friends in bands were signed to the majors, my reel naturally grew stronger, because I knew how to produce and direct, and put every cent on screen.  I’ve directed music videos for the likes of Muse, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Blue October, Michael Franti, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys, Shadows Fall, Converge, and a zillion awesome punk bands from the glory days.

Frank Scherma, Dana Locatell, and Radical Media represented me for commercials for over a decade. At Radical I essentially built my career as a director, filming hundreds of commercials, documentaries, and branded films for some of the biggest brands in the world.  Here is where I honed my true storytelling abilities, creating work that has been honored by the Cannes Lions, Clios, One Club, and our beloved union the DGA.

I am currently represented by Executive Producers David Mitchell and Tomer DeVito at Wild Gift Content for commercials and branded films. I share history with both producers that dates back to our humble beginnings at RSA Films. Check them out at www.wildgiftcontent.com.

I’ve returned to the Ridley Scott Creative Group for features and television. For HBO Max, I am currently developing Sneakers, a hip-hop horror series based on the short story by Stephen King, which I will direct and executive produce alongside producers Ridley Scott and Tom Moran, and writers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin. I am also developing A Pretty Nice Place to Die, a fun buddy comedy about two bumbling New Jersey hitmen that transport a Werewolf across the state of Florida to a mob boss’ daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, starring Marlon Wayans, Kat McNamara, and Joe Keery. For May 2023, I will direct Clara Crane, a dark ghost story based on the urban legend of the mysterious “taffy lady” that haunted Terrell Texas for generations, written by Rob Kennedy, and produced by George Lee, Marcus Englefield, and Kevin Lewis.

I’ve just completed principal photography on two new television series for release in 2023. The first is Rennervations, an innovative new docu-series for Disney+, starring Jeremy Renner along with Vanessa Hudgens, Anthony Mackie, and Sebastian Yatra. The second is a fresh scripted series, Early Risers, created and written by Vincent Ngo (Hancock), and starring CS Lee, Kristian Bruun, Omar Elba, Dat Phan, Paul Yen, and Amara Miller. The series is a dark comedy about a group of expats living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2008, loosely based on Vincent Ngo’s experiences traveling the country.

I’ve also recently completed Twentysomethings - Austin for NETFLIX, a coming of age story in the spirit of Real World meets Friends. The fresh new series just premiered on December 10th, 2021 to rave reviews, holding a firm position in the Netflix Top Ten for several weeks.

My award winning feature documentaries and reality series include For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville (ABC), Racing Under Green (Discovery), Six Beers of Separation (Fox Australia), The Art of Walking (Nat Geo), and Punk Like Me (SXSW Audience Award 2006).  My short film, the sci-fi camp epic The Price on Henry James’ Head, did a healthy run of festivals all over the globe.  My short film, the comedy Happy?, also played across the festival circuit, starring Justin Furstenfeld from the band Blue October.

Six Beers of Separation earned a DGA nomination for Best Reality Director.

My personality is in the projects I have created, and I have won several awards that I am very proud of.  People have told me I am an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to both film and music.  My favorite color is blue, like the waves I surf every single morning.   The glass is half full.  My close friends are my brothers.  My favorite movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Everything I do is for my wife Amanda and my amazing son River James...

Thank you for your time...