Diesel's first film role was as an uncredited extra in the drama film "Awakenings".

Diesel wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the short drama film "Multi-Facial", a semi-autobiographical film which follows a struggling multiracial actor stuck in the audition process.

Diesel secured funds to make his first feature-length film, "Strays", an urban drama in which he played a gang leader whose love for a woman inspires him to try to change his ways.