Born in Brooklyn, NY. Screenwriter who entered American film with RUDE AWAKENING (1989). Other notable screenwriting credits include THE FISHER KING (1991), THE REF (1994, also producer), A LITTLE PRINCESS, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and UNSTRUNG HEROES (all 1995), THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES (1996), THE HORSE WHISPERER, LIVING OUT LOUD (also director) and BELOVED (all 1998), A DECADE UNDER THE INFLUENCE (2003, producer & director), PARIS, JE T'AIME (2006, segment: "Pigalle", also director), FREEDOM WRITERS and P.S. I LOVE YOU (both 2007, both also director), and QUIET TYPE (scheduled for 2008).  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen 1991: THE FISHER KING 1 nomination