Born and raised in Austin, Texas

Moved to California to attend college

Drew storyboards and sketches for "Star Wars", receiving credit as effects illustrator

Served as an artistic director at Industrial Light and Magic

Was effects illustrator for "Battlestar: Galactica"

Worked as visual effects art director for "The Empire Strikes Back"

Was visual effects art director on Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark"; shared Oscar for Best Visual Effects

Served as visual effects art director on "Return of the Jedi"

Was production designer for ABC movie "The Ewok Adventure", employing characters from "Return of the Jedi"

Worked as ultralight sequence designer for "Howard the Duck"

Served as 2nd unit director on "*batteries not included"; executive produced by Spielberg

Earned associate producer credit on Ron Howard's "Willow"

Feature directorial debut on the effects-driven Disney comedy "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"

Designed aerial sequences for Steven Speilberg's "Always"

Helmed second feature, the underappreciated "The Rocketeer"

Directed the "Princeton, February 1916" episode of "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" (ABC)

Helmed live action sequences of "The Pagemaster", starring Macaulay Culkin

Directed special effects-laden feature "Jumanji"

Helmed "October Sky", adapted from former NASA engineer Homer H Hickam Jr's memoir "Rocket Boys"

Directed the sequel "Jurrasic Park 3"

Helmed "Hidalgo", a Disney-produced story of horse racing