Raised in Westwood, California

Used parents Super-8 movie camera to make films as a teenager

At age 15, worked in a filing job at Lucasfilm

Was one of the principals in Propaganda Films; directed TV commercials for The Red Cross, Milk, Coca Cola, Nike, many others

Began directing music videos, re-launching Donny Osmond's career and also directing for Meatloaf, Tina Turner, and others

First collaboration with Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, the music video for "Days of Thunder"

Made feature film directorial debut with "Bad Boys"; produced by Simpson and Bruckheimer

Leaped onto "A" list of directors with "The Rock"

Formed Bay Films

Helmed the big-budget actioner "Armageddon", produced by Bruckheimer

Announced plans to develop a TV series "Quantico" for Fox; still in development as of 2001

Signed two-year multimillion dollar producing and directing deal with Disney

Directed the big-budget WWII-era set "Pearl Harbor"; again produced by Bruckheimer

Formed Platinum Dunes, a production company designed to produce lower-budgeted films

First film released under Platinum Dunes was a 'reconceptualization' of the 1974 horror film "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"

Directed "Bad Boys II" a sequal to the 1995 smash hit "Bad Boys"

Helmed the sci-fi thriller "The Island," starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson

Bought the special effects company Digital Domain from former owners James Cameron and Stan Winston

Helmed "Transformers," the live action film based on the franchise and toy line