Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars

After an unconventional start in the New York art scene, the Chicago native, 34, has made a swift Hollywood transition. With his cult comedy now in its third season on ABC, the writer-director-producer has an overall deal with Sony and most recently penned the Happy Madison movie That's My Boy.

BIG BREAK: The first thing I ever sold was this script, which was most recently called The Karate Kids. Summit bought it. They still own it, and I occasionally hear that it's gone out here or there. It presupposes that The Karate Kid was based on two real kids, and the movie picks up on them at their 20-year high school reunion after falling from grace and having a rematch of that big fight from the original movie.

BEST ADVICE: It sounds super simple, but my dad always said to work hard. In any field, if you put in a shitload of hours, it's definitely going to give you some advantage.

BIGGEST 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENT: I just feel lucky to have a job. I'm f--ing pumped to have a job.

MOVIE FIX: Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. That came out when I was shifting from painting into writing.

ONLINE OBSESSION: ESPN.com. I have to keep an eye on [Chicago Bulls point guard ] Derrick Rose's rehabilitation.