Born in NYC

Moved to L.A. at age ten

Began directing plays in high school

Moved to NYC after college

Wrote feature articles for such newspapers as the VILLAGE VOICE, New York DAILY NEWS and LOS ANGELES TIMES

First entertainment industry job, story editor for the ABC-TV sitcom "Delta House", adapted from the film "Animal House"

Began writing screenplays, sometimes with his brother, Stephen

Wrote first screenplay (with Stephen Tolkin and Stephen Fry) for British film "Gossip"

Served as associate producer on, and wrote screenplay for, "Gleaming the Cube"

Directed first feature, "The Rapture" (also wrote screenplay)

Played a small role in Robert Altman's "The Player", which he also co-produced and for which he wrote the screenplay (based on his own novel)

TV-movie debut, co-writer of HBO's "The Burning Season", directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Raul Julia

Wrote and directed the satirical "The New Age", featuring Judy Davis and Peter Weller

Was one of the screenwriters on the hit "Deep Impact"

Reportedly did a script polish on "Mission: Impossible 2"