John Gatins

Writer John Gatins rose from relative obscurity as a bit player in features to an Oscar nominee for penning "Flight" (2012), a harrowing drama about courage starring Denzel Washington. The nomination was the culmination of a decade-long transition from in front of the camera to a much-in-demand career as a script doctor on major Hollywood features and writer of sports-themed pictures like "Summer Catch" (2001) and "Hard Ball" (2005) for producers Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin. After making his directorial debut with the family drama "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" (2005), with Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, Gatins brought the long-gestating script for "Flight" to the screen with Washington and director Robert Zemeckis on board. His script, which took an unflinching look at a deeply flawed man who finds himself thrust into the role of hero after rescuing a troubled flight from crashing, earned an Oscar nomination in 2013, among other laurels. The honor was a clear indication of Gatins' ascent to becoming an A-list scribe in the Hollywood community.