Phil graduated with a photography degree from Syracuse University and moved to New York City with only $800 in his pocket and no job. What he lacked in funds, he made up for in gumption, hustling as a freelance photo-assistant before striking out on his own. As an award-winning photographer, Phil specialized in shooting music, celebrity, and fashion, working with artists like Green Day, The White Stripes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Christina Aguilera, Ludacris, Jay-Z, The Roots, Trent Reznor, My Chemical Romance, The Killers, and Fall Out Boy. In 2005, Phil shot his first music video and his first short film, "The Listening Dead", which he wrote, directed, edited and financed himself. Completed in 2006, "The Listening Dead" went on to win awards at film festivals all over the world. Named the "Best Horror Short of 2007" by Rue Morgue magazine, "The Listening Dead" continues to play festivals and special screenings across the globe. Phil's second short film, "Far Out", had it's world premier at CFC's Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto in 2007, where it was immediately picked up by The Sundance Channel. In its second festival screening, "Far Out" won the Bronze Medal for Horror Shorts at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, the same festival that honored "The Listening Dead" with a Best of Show award a year earlier. In 2008, Phil moved to Los Angeles to focus on directing. While developing feature projects, Phil continues to write and direct music videos, including Korn's "Oildale", and Opeth's "The Devil's Orchard", which was named one of the Best Music Videos of 2011 by Revolver Magazine, Guitar World Magazine, AOL's Noisecreep, and over a dozen online music blogs.