He grew up in San Diego, where he developed a love of wild animals and conservation biology. He went on to film school at the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Film & Media Studies from the University of California, Irvine. He has been influenced by Francois Truffaut, Tom Tykwer, and George Lucas, among others. His movies are marked by warm hearted adventure and the eyes of rebellious youth.