Michael has had an extensive career as a director and writer who's credits  include, 'Restoration' with Robert Downey, Jr., 'One Fine Day' with Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, 'Soapdish' with Sally Field and Kevin Kline, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', for which he also wrote the screenplay based on the work by Shakespeare, and 'The Emperor's Club', starring Kline and Emile Hirsch.

His film Promised Land (1987) was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Restoration (1995) was entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.

Hoffman wrote and directed The Last Station (2009), based on the final years of Leo Tolstoy's life, starring Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy and Paul Giamatti. He also directed Gambit (2012) and The Best of Me (2014).

In this episode he discusses his process for writing and developing his next TV show, the challengers that brings and the lessons he's learnt throughout his long career.