Biographie
Bettina Gilois is an acclaimed screenwriter and author, recognized with an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing of a Television Movie for the HBO film "Bessie." Her accolades also include two NAACP Image Award nominations, a Humanitas Prize nomination, two Black Reel Award nominations, and two Movieguide Award wins for Best Movie with "Glory Road" and "McFarland USA."
Holding an art history degree from Columbia University and having worked at Andy Warhol's Factory, she launched her writing career with Joel Silver and Warner Brothers. Gilois has collaborated with prominent figures such as Jerry Bruckheimer, Joel Silver, Joel Surnow, Lili and Dick Zanuck, Kevin Costner, Norman Jewison, Martin Campbell, Niki Caro, James Coburn, and Christian Bale. Her film credits include Jerry Bruckheimer's "Glory Road," as well as uncredited contributions to "The Mists of Avalon" featuring Anjelica Huston and "The Hurricane" starring Denzel Washington. Her Disney film "McFarland USA," starring Kevin Costner, earned the Cesar Chavez Award, the Most Moving Pictures Award, and a Movieguide Award for one of the 10 Best Movies of the Year for Mature Audiences. The HBO movie "Bessie," starring Queen Latifah, won the Critic's Choice Award for Best Movie Made for Television and received 12 Emmy nominations, winning an Emmy for Best Movie. Her film "The Lost Wife of Robert Durst" premiered in November 2017 on Lifetime. Gilois created and wrote the 2020 series "Muscle Shoals," based on Rick Hall's true story, produced by Johnny Depp and directed by George Tillman. She also wrote the 2020 Lifetime television movie "Mahalia." Additionally, she is the writer and creator of "Enlightened," a series for MGM and Amazon, and "Last Clear Chance," a series for ABC and Chelsea Handler Productions. Beyond screenwriting, Gilois has authored several books and contributes to the Arts and Culture section of the Huffington Post.
