Once a commercial fisherman, now an A-List Hollywood screenwriter.  That in itself is an interesting story! Helgeland grew up in New England, the son of a fisherman. Helgeland himself was a fisherman but thought better of it. So he decided to move to LA where he found his calling after attending film school. After graduating, Helgeland sharpened his screenwriting teeth on such films as A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4, 976-EVIL, and HIGHWAY TO HELL. Things changed for Brian when he literally bumped into Richard Donner and finagled his way into scripting the Stallone/Banderas spy thriller ASSASSINS.

The break out year for Helgeland was 1997, as he saw three of his screenplays produced:  THE POSTMAN", for which he received the Razzie for worst screenplay, CONSPIRACY THEORY and the acclaimed James Ellroy adaptation L.A. CONFIDENTIAL for which Helgeland shared a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar with Curtis Hanson. (Source) (Photo Credit BAFTA)

Anyway, this is a great interview/speech by Helgeland that every screenwriter will enjoy: