An American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used non-linear storylines and aestheticisation of violence. His films have earned him a variety of Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Palme d'Or Awards and he has been nominated for Emmy and Grammy Awards. He gave up acting while attending acting school, saying that he admired directors more than actors. He also worked in a video rental store before becoming a filmmaker, paid close attention to the types of films people liked to rent, and has cited that experience as inspiration for his directorial career.