Production designer who entered American film as a set dresser for INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS in 1973. He also worked on the sets of MEAN STREETS (1973) and BLACK BELT JONES (1974). Sandell worked as art director for FAST CHARLIE... THE MOONBEAM RIDER (1979), SERIAL (1980), BLOOD BEACH and DEAD & BURIED (both 1981) and ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985). His production design credits include THE PROMISE (1979), AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL (1982), ROBOCOP (1987), BIG BUSINESS (1988), TOTAL RECALL (1990), NOTHING BUT TROUBLE (1991), NEWSIES (1992), HOCUS POCUS (1993), THE FLINTSTONES (1994), OUTBREAK (1995), GLIMMER MAN (1996), AIR FORCE ONE (1997), SMALL SOLDIERS (1998), DEEP BLUE SEA (1999), THE PERFECT STORM (2000), DR. DOOLITTLE 2 (2001), THE FIRST $20 MILLION IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST (2002), MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD and PAYCHECK (both 2003), POSEIDON (2006), NEXT (2007), and HOTEL FOR DOGS (scheduled for release in 2009).  Nominated for Art Direction 2003: MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD - Art Direction 1 nomination