An accomplished American filmmaker, he initially gained recognition as a cinematographer, contributing to films like "Kiss the Girls" and "Simon Birch." Transitioning to directing, he achieved acclaim with the short film "Two Soldiers," which won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2004. He made his feature film directorial debut with "Get Low" in 2009, starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. His work is noted for its strong storytelling and visual style.