In 1994, Ponti graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
It was produced by Gabriella Martinelli and starred an ensemble cast which included Sophia Loren (his mother), Mira Sorvino, Deborah Kara Unger, Gérard Depardieu, Pete Postlethwaite, and Malcolm McDowell.
He was also attached to direct the British motion picture Payment Deferred starring Malcolm McDowell based on CS Forester’s bestselling novel and the period piece Behind her Smile produced by Fred Roos.
[citation needed] The first short Ponti wrote and directed, Liv, was executive produced by Robert Altman and Michelangelo Antonioni, and was premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
He wrote and directed an opera with renowned Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner titled Requiem for my Friend, for which Warner Bros. awarded Ponti a platinum record.