Dropped out of college

Traveled on a Greek ship to England

Found an unused closed-circuit TV camera aboard ship and, with several friends, created shows for the other passengers

Met his future wife in England; married

Returned to Australia

Began working in TV as a stagehand at Australia's ATN 7

Short film directing debut, "Count Vim's Last Exercise"

Short film acting debut (also director), "The Life and Flight of the Reverend Buckshotte"

Employed by Commonwealth Film Institute (now Film Australia)

Directed and wrote 30-minute segment "Michael" of ominibus feature "Three to Go"

Directed his first medium-length featurette, "Homesdale" (50 mins)

Directed and co-wrote first feature film, "The Cars That Ate Paris"

Won international recognition with "Gallipoli"; first screen collaboration with Mel Gibson

Reteamed with Gibson on "The Year of Living Dangerously"

US directing debut, "Witness", starring Harrison Ford; earned first Oscar nomination as Best Director

Directed Ford in "The Mosquito Coast"

Scored hit with "Dead Poets Society"; earned second Best Director Oscar nod

Was nominated for a third Oscar as screenwriter of "Green Card"

Helmed the flawed but unsuccessful "Fearless"

Directed Jim Carrey in rare dramatic role in "The Truman Show"; received Best Director Oscar nomination

Helmed "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", an adaptation of Patrick O'Brien's series of action-adventure novels; received Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture and Best Screenplay; nominated by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement; received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director