At NYU film school, Alan’s first short film, BRIEFLY…BRIAN, was chosen for that year’s best student film, screened at New York’s MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, showcased on PBS, and helped him finance a second short, MEETING HALFWAY, later picked up by SHOWTIME. The student films led WARNER BROS. to award him a summertime apprenticeship at the studio under director KEN RUSSELL on PADDY CHAYEFSKY’S ALTERED STATES.
Soon thereafter, the studio signed Alan to write STONYBROOK with producer TONY BILL, launching his career. He went on to write and direct TIGER TOWN for DISNEY starring ROY SCHEIDER. The following year, TIGER TOWN won best dramatic film at the cable ACE awards and, coincidentally, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series.
After producing Disney’s THE BLUE YONDER starring PETER COYOTE and ART CARNEY, Alan penned the teleplay for NBC’s CROSSING THE MOB with JASON BATEMAN and MAURA TIERNEY, then wrote and directed DISNEY’s THE CHRISTMAS STAR with ED ASNER, FRED GWYNNE and RENE AUBERJNOIS. Alan’s work caught the eye of FRANCIS COPPOLA, who produced his writing and directing on 20th CENTURY FOX’s pilot of writer S.E. HINTON’s beloved novel, THE OUTSIDERS. His pilot episode garnered the highest overnight ratings in Fox’s history at the time.
Alan wrote and directed the WARNER BROS. feature THE CRUSH, which marked the film debut of his young discovery, ALICIA SILVERSTONE. Then wrote and directed the UNIVERSAL PICTURES feature FLIPPER starring ELIJAH WOOD, PAUL HOGAN, ISAAC HAYES, and JONATHAN BANKS.
Alan has taught at USC SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ARTS and is an active member of the WGA and DGA.