ICH BIN EIN...
I was born in London. At eight we moved to Toronto. I played ice hockey, got high, spent a lot of time outdoors without technology, and agitated for love and anarchy. I got a lot of everything. Toronto in the late 70s through the 80s was an amazing place to be young. Much like Berlin of today there was time and space, with enough mod-cons to automate the functionality of life. My family was anything but functional, but I had a nice community around me and I had fun. Parents appreciated my good British manners, teachers knew I could do even better if only I applied myself just a little more, and coaches loved how I played hard and didn't watch the clock. I studied psychology at York University in Toronto and economics at McGill University in Montreal. I left Canada for Barcelona in '91 and then went back to London in '93 for seven years, before moving to New York, and then LA to pursue my "career" as a writer/director. I had some success in the US, and I generally love the place. I was approved for a Green Card when I directed "Law and Order SVU" and the gates to a "big career" opened. By that time though I had met my wife on a spontaneous camping trip to Sardinia. She's a medical doctor from Cologne, and we compromised on Berlin so she could continue practicing - and I could live the real dream of starting a family. Berlin is a fantastic place to raise a child, agitate and create. I'm optimistic. The writing is strong and people are paying attention. The family thing is a blessing. I definitely chose the right door.