When London native Spencer Stephens moved to Los Angeles more than two decades ago, he wanted to be on screen. The aspiring actor auditioned for a number of TV roles, and even landed a gig as a police officer on “Days of Our Lives.”

But he would eventually abandon his pursuit of Hollywood fame. “I don’t take rejection very well,” said Stephens, who acted under another name that he won’t reveal.

He did remain in show business, however, tapping into his master’s degree in computer science from UC Berkeley and working for the studios in creating computer file-based digital production pipelines to improve procedures and work flow.

After seven years at Warner Bros., Stephens recently joined Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City as senior vice president of technical services, working to boost the use of 3-D technology in productions.

“The thing about 3-D is that it needs to be a part of the storytelling,” said Spencer, who sees the format eventually transforming the entertainment business the way the switch to color changed the TV industry.

His Sony Pictures duties also include developing online streaming as a content distribution method for the studio.

“What’s exciting about digital distribution, is it’s becoming a much stronger market. NetFlix not only rents you a DVD, but you can also stream it off their Web site. There are some interesting business models there,” he said.

But he doesn’t see people completely abandoning their discs.

“For many people it’s important to own something,” Stephens said. “The way that you acquire a DVD may change, but I don’t think they’ll go away.”

Stephens lives with his wife, Yavone – they met in an acting class – in Century City. In his spare time, he still loves TV and singles out “Rescue Me” and “Damages” as favorites. He also likes to take out his Range Rover and spend time exploring local forests.