Lived in NYC variously as a student, artist and filmmaker

Had one of her first "exhibitions" at the Whitney Museum in NYC

Short film writing, producing and directing debut, "Set-Up" (a 20-minute-long Columbia student project)

Posed for a Gap advertisement

Served as script supervisor for "Union City"

First feature as co-writer/co-director (with Monty Montgomery), "The Loveless"; feature debut for star Willem Dafoe

Feature acting debut (as Kathy Bigelow), Lizzie Borden's "Born in Flames"

Moved to Los Angeles

Landed a development deal with producer-writer-director Walter Hill (who had been impressed by "The Loveless")

Solo directorial debut (also co-wrote with Eric Red), "Near Dark"

Directed Jamie Lee Curtis in "Blue Steel"

Helmed "Point Break" with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze; first collaboration with then husband James Cameron (executive produced)

TV directing debut, helmed the second hour of the sci-fi miniseries "Wild Palms" (ABC)

Directed the futuristic film, "Strange Days"; co-scripted and produced by ex-husband James Cameron

Re-teamed with Eric Red to write the thriller "Undertow" (aired on Showtime)

Helmed a two-part episode of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC); directed a third episode in 1999

Directed the feature adaptation of Anita Shreve's novel, "The Weight of Water"

Directed Harrison Ford in "K-19: The Widowmaker"; also produced

Directed the Iraq war thriller, "The Hurt Locker"; written by former Playboy journalist Mark Boal; screened at festivals in 2008