Martin Hynes was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon; he graduated from Columbia University with a history degree. During and after college, he worked in New York theater and sketch comedy. Hynes then attended the graduate film school at USC, where he received the Paramount Pictures Fellowship. His student film "Al as in Al" premiered at HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, and was one of the films chosen by USC to celebrate the best student work in the school's 75-year history. Just after film school, Hynes directed a low-budget independent feature "The Big Split," in which he starred with Judy Greer. The film premiered at AFI's Los Angeles International Film Festival. Hynes also starred in the hit short film "George Lucas In Love." For his performance as the young George Lucas, he accepted a Best Actor award in San Sebastian. Hynes has written scripts for Universal/Imagine, Disney and New Line.