He continued his education earning an M.F.A in film study and production from the University of Southern California.
Unfortunately the company went broke before Foley finished writing, but the stamp of approval was enough to get his career started with his first directing gig on the low budget 1984 teen drama Reckless.
[3] In 1984, Foley made his directorial debut with Reckless, which starred Aidan Quinn and Daryl Hannah.
[5] The Corruptor, his action film starring Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg, was released in 1999.
[9] He often collaborates with cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchía, having made 5 films with him, as well as Madonna's "Live to Tell" music video.