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Workspace: John Gatins

September 24, 2012 Workspace

john gatins headshotWho are you and what do you write?
—

I am a screenwriter who has written a few sports movies including [Hardball](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180734/), [Coach Carter](http://www.coachcartermovie.com/index2.html) and [Real Steel](http://www.steelgetsreal.com/). I have a movie coming out called [Flight](http://www.paramount.com/flight/) that stars Denzel Washington and is directed by Robert Zemeckis.

I also directed a movie I wrote called [Dreamer](http://www.dreamer.dreamworks.com/), with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell.

Where and when do you write?
—-

I write in the mornings in a little office above a hair salon in West Hollywood. My building is also connected to a synagogue and a fish restaurant.

Before having kids I used to write at home from midnight to 4 am. I loved that — the phone doesn’t ring. LA is very quiet at night; everything closes pretty early. Now if I’m not writing by 10am, I probably won’t write that day.

What software do you use?
—-

workspaceI use [Final Draft](http://www.finaldraft.com/).

What hardware do you use?
—-

A [MacBook Air](http://www.apple.com/macbookair/).

What (if anything) would you change?
—-

If I could change anything it would be my stamina for the chair. Meaning, I used to be able to get in two three-hour writing sessions a day. Now a solid two hours is a good day.

Do something everyday, I try to tell myself. Just something everyday. Even if it’s just reading what you’ve written.

Related Posts

  1. Being rewritten
  2. Workspace: Phil Hay
  3. Workspace: Beth Schacter

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