Dropped out of college three times during 1960s

Finally earned college degree

Began teaching film courses at Michigan State University

Met with former student Jack Epps Jr; decided to write screenplays together and sketched out ten ideas in initial meeting

Sold screenplay ideas for "Izzy and Moe" (later filmed for TV with a script by another writer) and "Dangerously"

First produced screenplay, "Top Gun"

Worked on screenplay of "Dick Tracy"

With Epps, co-wrote the thriller "Anaconda"