Original pieces from Werner Herzog influenced Richard Linklater's career (5)
I believe the answer is:
whirl
'career' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for whirl that I've seen before include "Circular movement - brief try" , "Rotate" , "quick turn" , "Frantic activity" , "Do the twist" .)