Attended the University of Southern California (USC) Film School in the 1980s. The day after Joanou's student film
Last Chance Dance (1984) was shown at the annual USC Film School screening - where student films are screened for industry professionals -
Steven Spielberg phoned Joanou at home, asking if he'd like to direct an episode of "Amazing Stories." Joanou's reply was yes and he ended up directing two episodes: "Santa '85" and "The Doll," the latter of which won a best actor Emmy for actor 'John Lithgow'. Spielberg then gave Joanou the screenplay for
Three O'Clock High (1987), then known as "After School".