| Practiced law in Austin, TX |
| Wrote speeches for politicians |
1979 | Moved to L.A. to attend USC's film school |
1980 | Made a short film titled "Proof" about parachute jumping |
1984 | Feature debut as screenwriter and story writer of John Milius' "Red Dawn" |
1985 | Debut as a feature writer-director, "Fandango" from Amblin Entertainment; first collaboration with Kevin Costner |
1986 | Made TV debut as screenwriter (from a Steven Spielberg story) with "You Gotta Believe Me," an episode of the fantasy anthology series "Amazing Stories" (NBC) |
1988 | First directing assignment he did not script, "The Beast," a war film set in Afghanistan |
1991 | Earned breakthrough commercial success with "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," starring Costner |
1994 | Directed "Rapa Nui," an eccentric period heroic adventure executive produced by Costner |
1995 | Quit post at the helm of the troubled production of sci-fi actioner "Waterworld" due to creative differences with star-producer Costner and studio MCA over the editing and content of the film just three months before the scheduled July 28th release date |
1997 | Helmed the drama "187," starring Samuel L. Jackson |
2001 | Directed the remake of "The Count of Monte Cristo," starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce |
2006 | Directed the period drama "Tristan & Isolde" |
2012 | Directed Costner and Bill Paxton in The History Channel miniseries "Hatfields & McCoys" |
