Bergthold was born in Whidbey Island, Washington. He served as co-creator and president of the student filmmaking group "Wazzu Films", located at the Washington State University. After experiences as set runner and assistant for the directors, he's currently also serving as production assistant on the feature films The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle (2008) and American Primitive (2008, with James B. Sikking and Anne Elizabeth Ramsay). In addition he worked as location assistant for the film Black Dynamite (2008, with stunts by Lauren Kim).