Aziz Ghazal's early career as a filmmaker began when he attended the University of Southern California's prestigious Film School, where he spent over a decade managing the stock room. During this time, he seized the opportunity to create short films, utilizing the school's equipment to bring his creative vision to life.
It was during this period that Ghazal wrote, produced, and directed two notable films: the schlock horror movie "Zombie High" in 1987 and the experimental film "The Natural History of Parking Lots" in 1990. The latter film showcased his ability to collaborate with students at USC, convincing them to participate in the project in exchange for earning degree credits.
In 1992, Ghazal was introduced to Gregory McDonald's novel "The Brave" by his friend Paul McCudden, who had read and enjoyed the book. Ghazal was tasked with directing the film adaptation, with a script penned by McCudden and the author's approval of a one-year option on his book.
However, Ghazal's life took a devastating turn in late 1993, when he brutally murdered his ex-wife Becky and their daughter Khadijah, before setting their home ablaze. Ghazal disappeared, and his body was later discovered by hikers in January 1994, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A note was found in his abandoned vehicle, which read, "You can never know the pain you caused me," alongside a copy of "The Brave."
In a bizarre twist, Johnny Depp would go on to create his own film adaptation of "The Brave" in 1997, starring in, writing, and directing the project.
