Scripter Awards Nominations
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 7:28PM 
The USC Scripter awards announced their nominations today. It was another good day for The Irishman and Jojo Rabbit as they continue collecting accolades this month. Joining them are The Two Popes and Little Women whose record so far has been spotty. In a surprise, the fifth spot went to Dark Waters, which means that this is another precursor that passed on honoring Hustlers. Also missing is A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. It seems both films awards strengths lie only in their supporting players, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Hanks respectively. The other title ignored today was Joker, which could still rally with the Academy.
The Scripter is an award presented annually by the University of Southern California (USC) to honor both screenwriters and the authors whose work they adapted...
It has a great record with Oscar; the winner of the Scripter has gone on to win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar in eight of the last nine years.The anomaly was last year when Debra Granik (Leave No Trace) won the Scripter while Spike Lee (Blakkklansman) won the Oscar. Winners will be announced on January 25th.
FILM NOMINEES
Dark Waters, Matthew Carnahan and Mario Correa, based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich
The Irishman, Steven Zaillian, based on the nonfiction work I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi, based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
Little Women, Author Louisa May Alcott and screenwriter Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes, Anthony McCarten, based on his play The Pope
TELEVISION NOMINEES
Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, for the first episode, based on her one-woman play of the same name
Fosse/Verdon, Joel Fields and Steven Levenson, for the episode “Nowadays,” based on the biography Fosse by Sam Wasson
Killing Eve, Emerald Fennell, for the episode “Nice and Neat,” based on the novel Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings
Unbelieveable, Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, for the first episode, based on the article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong
Watchmen, Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson for the episode “This Extraordinary Being,” based on the comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
What do you think of these nominations?
Reader Comments (12)
I doubt if this will happen, but how do you give the award to Louisa May Alcott? Does it go to her estate, or her original publishing house, or does USC keep it? Greta Gerwig? Silly question, but still.
Speaking of Little Women, I have seen quite a few lists that put it as about the 6th choice in a Top Ten. It looks like people like it, just not enough.
Fleabag is better written than all the movies. Where is Marriage Story?
Only for adapted screenplays ^^
The TV category is flawless.
The script was the worst part of Dark Waters, although as I was watching it just last night I thought it could slip into this somewhat quieter category
Marriage Story is not an adaptation.
I can't get over that Todd Haynes made poor Anne Hathaway wear that wig in Dark Waters.
Dark Waters???!!! L O fucking L!
I love WATCHMEN being recognized - reminds me how exciting it was to see LOGAN show up at the Oscars.
Interesting that Fleabag sneaks in here, since the second season was written expressly for television, but I suppose it's the same rule that allowed Before Midnight to be nominated for 'Adapted' at the Oscars.
I didn't know it was only for adapted screenplays (boring). Sorry! Blame my imposter.
Glenn Dunks: Honestly, I think Dark Waters showing up here might mean everyone is VASTLY underestimating Toy Story 4 (which is "Adapted" by Academy standards but Scripters CAN'T nominate) for this category.