A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century Texas prospector. Anderson began his career as a production assistant in Los Angeles and New York. He later made the short Cigarettes & Coffee (1992). The film was screened at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival to considerable acclaim. Anderson's features include Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999) and Punch-Drunk Love (2002).