Dean Alioto studied film at both University of Southern California and San Francisco State University. Alioto is credited in the Paramount + documentary Unknown Dimensions: The Story of Paranormal Activity as being the first filmmaker to use the found footage format with his debut film The McPherson Tape. In his follow up film Crashing Eden, Alioto was praised by Variety, singling out his writing and solid direction with actors. In addition to filmmaking, Alioto is a drummer.