Graduated from Wesleyan University in 1989. Is one of at least six recent graduates of this Connecticut college to rise to success as a writer or director, along with fellow alumni filmmakers Michael Bay, Ruben Fleischer, Joss Whedon, Mike White and Benh Zeitlin.
As he detailed in an article in January, 2006, issue of the Directors
Guild Quarterly, Arteta explains why Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy (1982) is one of his
favorite films of all time, and one of most influential in his
career.
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in
2006.