Inspired by the writings of Jack Kerouac and other "beat" writers, wrote poetry that was published in the POTOMAC REVIEW and other journals; performed poetry on the mid-West coffee-house circuit

Came to Hollywood on a bus at age 17 (date approximate)

Became a press agent for the "Steve Allen Show" at 18 (date approximate)

Worked as a freelance speechwriter for the chairman of Westinghouse, a sponsor of the "Steve Allen Show"

Between assignments, wrote his first novel, "Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye", at age 19 (date approximate)

Temporarily relocated to NYC; became involved with the American Place Theatre

Inspired to direct after seeing Czech filmmaker Milos Forman's "Loves of a Blonde" at the New York Film Festival

"Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?" published

Wrote a screenplay based on his novel

Sought out Forman to film his screenplay; failed to collaborate with Forman but did begin association with another Czech filmmaker, director Ivan Passer

Made first film, a documentary entitled "Presidents' Daughters"; reportedly partially suppressed by the Nixon White House; 12 minutes were extracted and shown on a 1969 segment of CBS's news magazine "60 Minutes"; rest of film subsequently "lost" (date approximate)

Produced "Derby", a "cinema verite" documentary feature about a young roller derby enthusiast

Produced and directed "First Position", a documentary about young lovers at the American Ballet School

Produced and scripted "Law and Disorder", director Passer's US film debut, starring Carroll O'Connor and Ernest Borgnine

Over ten days, scripted the sanitized comic biopic of NYC madam Xaviera Hollander, "The Happy Hooker"

Adapted Richard Condon's novel for the screenplay of "Winter Kills"

Began production on "Winter Kills", his feature directorial debut; production halted by unions for non-payment of salaries; MGM impounded the negative; production went into bankruptcy; one producer was murdered execution-style while another was jailed for narcotics trafficking

Scripted (from a Larry Cohen story) and directed "The American Success Company/Success" (released in 1979), a dark satire of capitalism and machismo starring "Winter Kills" star Jeff Bridges; shot in Munich and backed by German tax shelter money

In December, won financial backing from Avco-Embassy to shoot a final two weeks on "Winter Kills"

With Claire Townsend, formed the Invisible Studio to release and distribute "Winter Kills" and "The American Success Company/Success" (date approximate)

Helmed his own adaptation of his first novel, "Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?", as "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" starring River Phoenix

Played the major supporting role of the Falstaffian Bob Pigeon in Gus Van Sant Jr's "My Own Private Idaho"; second screen collaboration with Phoenix

First character role in a mainstream Hollywood film, "The Client"

First TV guest shot, played the quarry of "The Marshal" in the ABC police adventure series

Episodic TV directing debut, "These Foolish Things", an episode of "The Marshal"