 studies at Columbia University and then at the AFI Conservatory, where he graduated in 1979.During his studies at the American Film Institute, Mandel received the Alfred Hitchcock Award for his thesis film, "Night at O'Rears", which then went on to win the First Prize at Filmex in Los Angeles, First Prize at the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas; and was exhibited at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center.Mandel went on to become a successful film director, as well as a television series director, having directed "Lost", "Nash Bridges" and "The Practice".