Mandel's journey to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts was a long and winding road. He initially attended Florida A & M's School of Business and Industry after high school, but was forced to leave after his freshman year due to financial hardship. He then worked as a handyman and pumped gas before joining the Army in 1986, where he distinguished himself and was awarded seven service medals and commendations, as well as becoming a U.S. Paratrooper during his two years in the Sixth Ranger Training Battalion.
After his Honorable Discharge in October, 1988, Mandel returned to New York and started work as a Paralegal at the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, with plans of becoming an attorney. He resumed his education at Fordham University as a full-time student, while maintaining his full-time job. In his senior year, Mandel decided against a legal career and instead looked into becoming a filmmaker.
In May, 1992, Mandel graduated with a B.A. in U.S. History, a Minor in African-American Studies, and a 3.0 GPA. Upon graduation, he devised a plan to go to NYU film school and make his first feature film in his third academic year. He continued working and took non-matriculated writing courses before putting his plan into effect.
The plan resulted in the feature film "Other Brother, The (2001)", formerly titled "Tears Of A Clown". The film stars Mehki Phifer of "8 Mile", MTV's "Carmen", "O", "Clockers", "Soul Food" and TV's "ER", Andre Blake of "Stepmom", "Philadelphia", "Loving Jezabel" and "Just the Ticket", Michele Morgan of "New Jersey Drive", "Bulworth" and the FOX television show "The P.J.'s" and Tangi Miller, star of VH-1's "The MC Hammer Story" and the W.B. television series "Felicity".
Today, Mandel's challenge is to continue in a career as a "full service filmmaker".
