Two of Lyne's early short films, The Table and Mr Smith, were official entries in the London Film Festival. In his twenties he played trumpet with the jazz group, The Colin Kellard Band. Lyne made his feature filmmaking debut in 1980 with Foxes, a perceptive look at the friendship of four teenage girls growing up in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, starring Jodie Foster. His next film, 1983's Flashdance, is an innovative blend of rock 'n' roll, new dance styles, and visual imagery. Lyne's bravura visuals (reminiscent of his 1970s UK commercials for Brutus Jeans), wedded to Giorgio Moroder's score, propelled the story of an aspiring ballerina (Jennifer Beals, in her film debut) who works in a factory by day and dances in a club at night. The film generated over $200 million worldwide and was the third highest-grossing film of 1983. The film was also nominated for three Academy Awards, with the theme song, "What a Feeling", winning the Oscar for Best Song.