He is known for his unapologetic portrayals of bisexuality and HIV in art, particularly his autobiographical novel and film Les Nuits fauves (Savage Nights).
He attended Lycée Hoche in Versailles, and pursued an engineering degree at Institut Industriel du Nord in Villeneuve d'Ascq, later known as École centrale de Lille before deciding to drop out.
The semi-autobiographical Savage Nights (Les Nuits fauves), finished in 1992, was Collard's first and only feature film.
Early in his career, Collard assisted fellow director Maurice Pialat and directed six music videos, as well as several television programs.
Among the music videos he directed were those of French-Algerian band Carte de Séjour, whose lead singer Rachid Taha was one of the most famous rock-ethnic musicians in France.