Born in Southern California. Started making home movies at the age of twelve. Got his first professional job at sixteen (as an animator on a short film being produced at the Brooks Institute of Photography). Attended California Institute of the Art for two years before being offered a job at Disney, where he worked as a sculptor, animator and storyboard artist. Worked for many years as a writer and storyboard artist on live-action features before getting his first chance to direct second unit on Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness in 1991.