Practiced law in Austin, Texas

Wrote speeches for politicians

Moved to L.A. to attend USC's film school

Made a short film entitled "Proof" about parachute jumping

Feature debut as screenwriter and story writer of John Milius' "Red Dawn"

Debut as a feature writer-director, "Fandango", from Amblin Entertainment; first collaboration with Kevin Costner

TV debut as screenwriter (from a Steven Spielberg story) on "You Gotta Believe Me", an episode of the fantasy anthology series "Amazing Stories"

First directing assignment he did not script, "The Beast", a war film set in Afghanistan

Breakthrough commercial success, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", starring Costner

Directed "Rapa Nui", an eccentric period heroic adventure executive produced by Costner

Quit post at the helm of the troubled production of sci-fi actioner "Waterworld" due to creative differences with star-producer Costner and studio MCA over the editing and content of the film just three months before the scheduled July 28th release date

Helmed the drama "187", starring Samuel L. Jackson

Directed the remake of "The Count of Monte Cristo", starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce

Directed the period drama "Tristan & Isolde"