Gina Atwater is from Atlanta, GA and earned her MFA in Film from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Her thesis film Crossing received a National Board of Review Student Grant, was a Semifinalist in the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards, and won the Spike Lee Student Film Award at the 2012 Starz Denver Film Festival. Before that, her short film Joy In The Morning won the 2009 HBO Student Film Competition at the Savannah Film Festival and was featured on BET.com as part of the network’s Lens on Talent Program. Gina then moved to Los Angeles, working as the assistant to J.J. Abrams at Bad Robot Productions. She assisted Abrams through two films and five television shows. She then transitioned to the writer’s room as writer’s assistant for Season 1 of HBO’s critically acclaimed series Westworld. While still a writers’ assistant for Westworld, she won her first Emmy for "Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media within a Scripted Program" for her work on the series’ website. She then quickly became staffed, writing the critically acclaimed "The Riddle of the Sphinx" episode as her episodic debut. She was promoted to Story Editor for season 3.

Gina is set to make her feature film directorial debut with her buzzed about script Shame the Devil, which is being financed and produced by BoulderLight Films. She currently adapting a book for Apple TV+ with MRC and Sugar 23 attached, and is working on a feature for QC, John Legend, and PictureStart.

Film/TV Show that has inspired your work:

Eve's Bayou, Rashomon, The English Patient, The Godfather

Dream Actor/Actress to work with:

Anyone willing to work with me.

The book everyone should read:

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

When you’re not creating you are:

Probably at a museum or planning an elaborate birthday celebration. Or binge-watching something.

Social cause you’re most passionate about:

I believe very strongly in the work done by Loyola Law School's Project for the Innocent: https://www.lls.edu/academics/experientiallearning/clinics/projectfortheinnocent/

I also believe strongly in advocating for victims of human trafficking. Please check out Rachel Thomas' Sowers Education Group, which provides resources for trafficking awareness and rehabilitation of former victims: https://sowerseducationgroup.com/

What does the Mission mean to you?

It's a space for true artistic creation, an opportunity to make art that is meaningful, heartfelt, and part of the larger goal to make the world a better place.