Midway through college, O'Brien shifted gears from athletics to English and Drama, directing a number of university-screened short films and documentaries and acting in the Blackfriars Theatre productions.

[2] After backpacking around Europe, and inspired by the DIY cinema of Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee and Richard Linklater, O’Brien moved to Los Angeles, to make independent films.

Wish You Were Here stars Louie Sabatasso, Gary Douglas Kohn and Arroyn Ambrose in a road adventure film about the effects of addiction and the bond of family and friends.

Created with Eric Kopatz, producer and star of Bastard, the science fiction film Hyperfutura involves genetic engineering, mind control and time travel.

[9] The 'making of' story of the production was first picked up by Variety in 2013 as the filmmakers looked to overcome the government shutdown of all national parks just weeks before their scheduled shoot at Paramount Ranch.