He received a BFA in Filmmaking from SUNY Purchase in 1987, and worked as a film projectionist, preservationist, archivist, editor, cameraman, muralist painter, set decorator, grip, electrician, and PA. Performing a wide spectrum of jobs on set before he was introduced to River Phoenix on Dogfight, he mentored the actor for his role in My Own Private Idaho. Additionally, he wrote (uncredited) the love scene between Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. In 1992, he moved to Seattle to shoot a feature film but that film was never made. Instead, from 1994-2000, he created a widely praised and popular public access show called KOOKtv. Today, episodes and short films from KOOKtv can be found online. He also contributed uncredited cinematography in the academy award nominated film "How To Survive a Plague".