Guy Ferland picked up how to maintain a productive work ethic shortly after graduating from the University of Southern California film school in 1988, when he spent five years working as the personal assistant to ultra-prolific Hollywood director and producer Joel Schumacher. During that period, Schumacher directed five films, most of which were box office successes. On 1994's legal drama "The Client," Ferland received an associate producer credit, in part for his unofficial on-set role as minder for the film's troubled young star, Brad Renfro. Schumacher served as executive producer on Ferland's debut as screenwriter and director, the Alicia Silverstone-starring stalker drama "The Babysitter" (1995).