Gilois co-wrote the screenplay for the HBO television movie , '' Bessie '' ( 2015 ) with director Dee Rees and Christopher Cleveland . The film , starting Queen Latifah , is the life story of blues singer Bessie Smith . Gilois and her co-writers won an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Writing of a Television Movie , a Black Reel Awards of 2016 nomination and two Image Award nominations for their work . She worked on the film , Disney 's " McFarland USA " along with screenwriters Christopher Cleveland and Grant Thompson . The sports drama centers around a 1987 Central Valley , California high school cross-country team . The coach , played by Kevin Costner , along with multiple challenges , leads his hispanic runners to a state championship . The film won the Cesar Chavez Award and the Truly Moving Pictures Award in 2015
Black Reel Awards of 2016
Black Reel Awards of 2016
Bettina Gilois