Born July 2, 1964 in Los Angeles, California.
The sixth of seven children, I was raised in a home full of music, books and borderline insanity. My parents are retired architects who managed raising 5 boys and 2 girls AND build a respected firm. Since none of my siblings have been in
prison or has a noticeable drug or alcohol problem... parents, take a bow!
We moved from Eagle Rock to Altadena in 1971, an ethnically diverse community nestled on the slope of the San Gabriel Mountains above the larger and more famous Pasadena. I spent much of my childhood on the mountain paths and playing as much soccer as I could, I did well enough in school to be accepted to college.
I graduated from Sonoma State University in 1986 with a degree in Communications Studies working on the school newspaper and radio station. But really I majored in soccer, difficult romances, soccer, wine, soccer, scooter rides in the countryside, soccer, waiting tables at a seafood restaurant, soccer, beer, oh and I was a four year letter man in soccer. I play soccer to this day, when my knees permit it.
After graduation I traveled for a year throughout South America. My fondest memories are of the times spent with my Grandparents (father's) in Buenos Aires and my Grandmother (mother's mom) at the family ranch in the middle of Argentina. I saw most of Argentina, much of Chile and Uruguay and enough of Brazil to make me yearn to return to this day.
Upon my return I discovered that I had been accepted to the UCLA graduate film school, that was a shock as I had applied firmly believing that it was not going to happen. That summer (1987) I met the love of my life, Jennifer Mok, but more on her later.
At UCLA I made two very well regarded and award winning shorts and wish I could have stayed a film student forever. On the first day of orientation I met Christopher Chomyn, we hit it off and became fast friends (he was the best man at my wedding and I am Godfather to his second daughter Alexis). Chris is now a well respected cinematographer and professor at the USC School of Cinema.
What to say about Jennifer... we met when she was living and working in Berkeley where she was born and raised. She was smart (Applied Math Major at UC Berkeley!), sweet (very sweet) and adventurous (rock climber). For some reason she liked me. She was laid off as a Project Manager at a software company and decided to move down to be with me. She started working at my parents firm to help with their first computer drafting systems.
In 1990 we were married in the back yard of my parents house. Jennifer went back to school for Landscape Architecture and left my parents firm after eight years to work for Disney as an Imagineer in 1996. She has been there ever since and is currently a Project Land Lead (heading the design of the new Cars Land at California Adventure).
The year we were married we got the amazing puppy Cuatro, a Shepherd mix, was our best friend for 17 years. Eight years ago we got Cuatro a little companion, Zuzu, the white Terrier. She's still here, bossing us all.
In 1997 we bought a 1908 Craftsman duplex with some friends in the Angelino Heights neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. We are walking distance from Dodger Stadium (though I go to more LA Galaxy Soccer games) and historic Echo Park (Zuzu likes chasing the ducks).
In our 20 years of marriage we have had to deal with breast cancer (she is fine now, a five year survivor), infertility, working overseas (we spent six months in Hong Kong while building the Disneyland there), relocation to Florida (I hated it... no mountains). We have traveled though Italy, Spain and Southern France together. Visited Macau, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Canadian Rockies, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay (I'll get back to Brazil someday). There is almost no city or region of the US we have not driven through on our various road trips and look forward to getting a trailer someday and camping with the little one.
Speaking of the little one! On July 15th, 2010 the long process of adopting Jordi was completed. He is now stuck with us forever.
For more information regarding my work see the WORK section of this webpage.
