Dan was born and raised in Los Angeles California, (Toluca Lake). He is a local in the industry with far-reaching connections to crew, talent, equipment and decision makers. For the last eighteen years, Dan has worked as a 1st Assistant Director on over thirty feature films for studios such as Universal, MGM, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Sony and Screen Gems. He also has more than a dozen televisions series to his name for ABC, NBC, CBS, USA Cable and Lifetime Networks.
For the past five years, Dan has been combining his 1st AD work with producing, a marriage of skills highly sought after by independent film makers and rarely found. He has strong relationships with all major bond companies and is currently co-developing projects with partners in Los Angeles, India, Australia and Singapore.
As well as scheduling, budgeting and managing crew on location and set, Dan also has experience in production / post production, working as a Visual Effects Producer (as well as 1st AD for VFX Unit) on many films including "Red Riding Hood" and "Stuart Little 2". Dan has film makers and financiers trust him from development all the way through post to plan and execute projects on schedule and within budget - always.
Dan has worked on a wide range of projects with budgets in the $20m to $120m range, as well as many at $15m and under. He has collaborated at the highest level with directors such as Randal Kleiser (Grease, Blue Lagoon), Peyton Reed (Down With Love, Yes Man), Barbera Kopple (2 time Oscar winner) and Gary Fleder (Don't Say A Word). Dan was also actress Shirley MacLaine's 1st AD in her directorial debut and again, for Helen Mirren, in her directorial debut. He traveled throughout India (Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali) and across into the Himalayas with Oscar nominated director Ashutosh Gowariker for his feature "Buddha".
Recently, Dan has worked on the Sony feature "Friends with Benefits" starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, and with first-time director Malik Bader on the Intrepid Pictures feature "Crush".
Other credits as Co-Producer and 1st AD include the features "Lovewrecked" with Amanda Bynes, directed by Randal Kleiser, "The Santa Trap" with Shelly Long, Dick Van Patten, Stacey Keach, "Paranormal Whacktivity", a comedy, and the boxing movie "From Mexico with Love" directed by Jimmy Nickerson. Additional credits include Associate Producer/1st AD on "Monster Mutt" with Brian Stepanek and Mindy Sterling, and UPM / 1st AD on "Look", written and directed by Adam Rifkin.
Dan is currently attached to produce and 1st AD several features in development such as "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys" starring Paris Jackson for GMT Entertainment, "Love Stories For Perverts" for producer Jason Weiss and Epicenter, and "Why" directed by George Clark and Vis Pop production company / Visual FX.