milestones
Year
Milestone
 
Worked as a commercial fisherman in New Bedford, MA in the early 1980s; changed career path "following a big storm at sea on Thanksgiving, 1985"
1986 
Moved to Los Angeles
1988 
First feature as screenwriter, Renny Harlin's "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master"
1988 
Wrote script for Robert Englund's "976-Evil"
1992 
Received first solo screenwriting credit for "Highway to Hell"
1995 
First association with Richard Donner on "Assassins"
1996 
TV directing debut, episode entitled "A Slight Case of Murder", which he also wrote, for HBO's "Tales From the Crypt" series
1997 
Sole credited writer on Donner's "Conspiracy Theory"
1997 
Adapted James Elroy's acclaimed crime saga into "L.A. Confidential" (shared screenwriting credit with director Curtis Hanson); received Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay
1997 
With Eric Roth, co-wrote screen adapation of "The Postman", directed by and starring Kevin Costner
1998 
Continued association with Donner writing screenplay for "Lethal Weapon 4", starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover
1999 
Feature directing debut, "Payback", starring Gibson and Maria Bello; also scripted; reportedly lost final cut to Gibson who shot new footage
2001 
Wrote and directed the medieval action adventure "A Knight's Tale"
2002 
Penned the script for the crime thriller "Blood Work," directed by and starring Clint Eastwood
2003 
Wrote and directed "The Order" originally titled "Sin Eater"
2003 
Wrote the adaption for Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River"; received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Screenplay; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay
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Lauren and Heidi of MTV's "The Hills"
Jeff Lipsky/MTV

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