Worked as reporter for the Houston Chronicle in the mid-1970s

Was freelance as journalist (articles appeared in Texas Monthly)

Worked as an apprentice to Robert Benton

First film, the documentary, "For All Mankind"; earned Oscar nomination

First fictional film, "Apollo 13"; received co-screenplay credit with William Broyles Jr; shared Oscar nomination

Contributed to the screenplay for "Final Fantasy"

Collaborated with James Cameron on a five-hour miniseries about colonizing Mars for Fox; still in development as of 2001