Tanner was a starter for the Division I NCAA football program for three seasons, winning the Western Athletic Conference (1995) and playing in the Copper Bowl (1995).

[1] During his service, Tanner's passion for making movies was recognized and consequently charged with filming and editing for the United States Air Force.

[2] As visual effects editor on Avatar[3] Tanner assisted in the creation of the complex live-action and motion capture hybrid post-production pipeline for James Cameron.

[citation needed] In 2009, Tanner co-founded Digital Revolution Studios, and began directing and producing 3D content for the emerging 3D home and theatrical market.

He produced, directed and edited multiple award-winning content for small and larger venues, from wildlife and nature clips to commercials to independent feature-length films.