Raised in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area

Began making Super-8 movies as a teenager

After college, moved to L.A.

First screen credit (billed as Thomas C O'Haver), production assistant on "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare"

Worked at New Line; began as mailroom clerk, eventually rising to assistant in Home Video Publicity

Took screenwriting classes at UCLA

Sold short film "The Pitch" to Showtime

While attending film school, made several short films including "Catalina" and "Home Movie" (both 1994)

Wrote and directed first feature "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss," an expanded version of the short "Catalina"; screened at the Sundance Film Festival; distributed by Trimark

Penned screenplay for film based on the "Archie" comics for Universal; was also set to direct but film was put on hold

Directed second feature "Get Over It" starring Kirsten Dunst; film was a flop, barely making its money back at the box office

Helmed "Ella Enchanted," based on the popular children's book and starring Anne Hathaway and Cary Elwes

Directed and co-wrote "An American Crime," based on the true crime story of Indiana single mother Gertrude Baniszewski