This talented, passionate and sensitive writer-director of films of the fantastic segued from obscurity to controversy literally overnight with the release of "Powder" (1995), his first major feature. Co-produced by Hollywood Pictures, a subdivision of Disney, and Caravan Pictures, this surprisingly sober and intelligent fable told the unusual story of a boy genius with snow-white skin and a strange relationship to electricity whose physical oddity becomes a lightning rod for intolerance in a small Texas town. Though the film boasted an extraordinary central performance from Sean Patrick
Entered his film "Something in the Basement" into a national competition
Came to the attention of Francis Ford Coppola
1987
Pleaded guilty to having and filming unlawful oral sex with a minor--Nathan Forrest Winters, the 12-year-old star of "Clownhouse" and another previous Salva film; sentenced to three years (served 15 months) at the California Training Facility in Soledad
1988
Feature debut as writer-director, "Clownhouse"; Coppola's son Roman served as executive in charge of production; first film from fledgling Commercial Pictures
