USC Scripter Nominations Add a TV Category. (But Where's "Carol" in Film?)

The USC Scripter announced their nominations today. They honor authors of original printed works alongside the screenwriters who have adapted them. They are a group of Academics and writers who somehow have been in lock and step with Oscar in choosing the same winning Adapted screenplay for the last 5 years. The Social Network (2011), The Descendants (2011), Argo (2012), 12 Years A Slave (2013) and The Imitation Game (2014).

This year they have expanded their awards - which will be presented February 20 - to include TV adaptations. Their nominees are after the jump... 

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Costume Designer's Guild Nods: Sandy Powell x 2. And More...

It's Guild Week. The week when many artists get their hopes up for nominations since the guilds have so many categories for their particular craft unlike Oscar's mere 5 for the altogether. But since we love costumes, the more the merrier. Congratulations to the nominees who we'll discuss after the jump...

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ASC Nominations for Best Cinematography & Adjacent Oscar Histories

John Seale and George Miller on the set of Mad Max Fury Road. Two 70somethings showing everyone how its done. The American Society of Cinemotagraphers have voted on the best of 2015's theatrical features. It's a year that can only be described as a filthy rich in terms of this artform. One only has to peruse the work of lower profile contenders that didn't make it to feel staggered by the abundance of worthy creative work being done in the field. 

But the rising talents -- and even some of the older giants -- in this arguable new golden age of the artform will have to wait another year for ASC and possibly Oscar honors. The guild went with a murderer's row of international legends this year. The ASC Nominees hail from five different countries (UK, Poland, Mexico, their average age is 62½  and between them they've amassed 31 Oscar nominations, 5 Oscar statues, 8 BAFTAs, and 5 Spirit Awards. That's a whole lotta statuary honoring their influential careers. 

Cinematography history and more on the nominees after the jump...  

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BAFTA Preview: Who might surprise Friday?

Here's Murtada with many questions about this year's possible BAFTA nominations.

The first indication that the BAFTA nominations are upon us - besides Awards announcements every two seconds - is the nominations for the Rising Star Award. This year’s crop include two 2015 British breakthroughs in Bel Powley (Diary of A Teenage Girl) and Taron Egerton (Kingsman), two stars of major blockbusters in John Boyega (Star Wars:The Force Awakens) and Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey) and one Oscar front runner in Brie Larson (Room). Their usual eclectic mix for this voted by the public award. Vote now if you are a UK resident.

But more importantly let's look at what Friday morning may bring by examining some trends from the last few years of BAFTA and what they could mean after the jump......

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WGA Nominations - Amy Schumer Twice Over and More...

Don't cry Sadness -- you weren't eligible. You can still dream of OscarOf the guild nominations each year the Writer's Guild, which should be the most fascinating to we writers, is often the least. That's no mark on their taste but on their guilds bizarre exclusionary practices. More than any other guild they eliminated many cherished films each year for "not a member" reasons. So it's worth noting that "snubs" are not ever snubs so much as "probably weren't eligible." situations. And when you really love a film that wasn't nominated you can just tell yourself that even if it isn't true. Why trouble yourself?

If you're just joining us, we previously interviewed Phyllis Nagy who is nominated today for her Patricia Highsmith adaptation Carol. We'll also be sharing an interview with the nominated screenwriter of Spotlight sometime soon. Amy Schumer is the big winner this year nominated for both TV and Film efforts. You can see the WGA nominees in 3 film categories, and 25 other categories (television/newmedia/radio) after the jump...

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