Raised in Los Gatos, California

Worked for the Landsburg Company as a researcher on documentary films

First produced screenplay, "Plain Clothes" (directed by Martha Coolidge)

Signed with Columbia to make debut as director with "The Big Wow"

Scripted "Dead Again," directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh

Scripted Jodie Foster's directorial debut effort "Little Man Tate"

Wrote the thriller "Malice" starring Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman

Adapted Elmore Leonard's novel "Get Shorty" as a feature film for director Barry Sonnenfeld

Screenplay credit for director Phil Joanou's "Heaven's Prisoners"

Reportedly did uncredited script polish on "Saving Private Ryan"

Wrote second film adaptation of a Leonard novel "Out of Sight"; received Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay

Adapted the Philip K. Dick short story, "Minority Report" for Steven Spielberg to direct and Tom Cruise to star

Uncredited rewrite of the thriller "The Ring"

Tapped as consulting producer for TV pilot "Karen Sisco," based on the Jennifer Lopez character from "Out of Sight"

Penned the screenplay adaptation of Roald Dahl's book, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

Co-wrote the thriller, "The Interpreter" starring Nicole Kidman

First feature as a director (also scripted), "The Lookout"

Co-wrote the screen adaptation of "Marley & Me"