A director who made his mark in television with work on the critically-lauded series "My So-Called Life", "NYPD Blue" and "Relativity" (all ABC), and the highly-rated NBC miniseries "The 60s", Mark Piznarski made the move to features with the 2000 romantic teen drama "Here on Earth". Aside from an early credit as an assistant director of the 1986 comedy/drama "About Last Night...", Piznarski launched his career on television, beginning in 1994 with the cult teen drama "My So-Called Life". Episodes of the series he helmed displayed a vibrant and edgy but ultimately gentle and understanding take on the material. In 1995, he directed an episode of "NYPD Blue", and the following year he teamed up with former "My So-Called Life" writer Jason Katims on the romantic drama "Relativity". Piznarski was a co-executive producer and frequent director of the short-lived series, and he again showed a fondness for the material that translated into affecting and realistic drama. In 1999 he made his miniseries debut as director of the highly-rated period drama "The 60s". Here he was able to stretch his creative muscles, and helped what could have r tensibly been an overwrought sentimental piece transcend the miniseries stereotype. His unusual take featured several collage-like sequences, which often captured the immediacy and upheaval of its historical and social context.
Given his remarkable track record with teen drama and romance, Piznarski's feature debut "Here on Earth" was a disappointment. Lacking the balance of substance and style he displayed with both "My So-Called Life" and "Relativity", the similarly themed film substituted pretty outdoors scenery for realistic emotional intimacy, cliches for evocative and empathetic storytelling and featured none of the compelling artfulness of his work with "The 60s". Returning to television, Piznarski directed the pilot for the Fox vampire serial drama "Ultraviolet" (2000-2001 season).