Winners of the 38th USC Libraries Scripter Awards were announced on Saturday night, recognizing the outstanding contributions of authors and screenwriters. Paul Thomas Anderson and Thomas Pynchon received accolades for their collaboration on the film One Battle After Another, while Mike Makowsky and Candice Millard took home the award for the limited series Death by Lightning.
Celebrating Adaptation and Original Works
The USC Scripter Awards honor both the original authors and the writers of adapted screenplays. Anderson’s film, inspired by Pynchon’s 1990 novel, has garnered significant acclaim, including wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, as well as receiving 13 Oscar nominations. The film triumphed over other nominees such as Frankenstein, Hamnet, Peter Hujar’s Day, and Train Dreams.
In the episodic series category, the adaptation of Millard’s nonfiction work, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President, proved to be a standout. The four-episode series depicted the events surrounding the assassination of President James Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon, at the hands of Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen. The series surpassed competition from other nominees, including Dark Winds, Dept. Q, Slow Horses, and Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.
A Night of Recognition and Achievement
The ceremony took place at the University of Southern California’s Town and Gown ballroom, where it was emceed by Melissa Just, the dean of USC Libraries. In addition to the awards, crime novelist Michael Connelly was honored with the USC Libraries Scripter Literary Achievement Award. The award was presented by Titus Welliver, known for his portrayal of Connelly’s iconic character, police detective Harry Bosch, in the Amazon Prime series.
These awards highlight the vital role of storytelling across various mediums, celebrating the creative collaboration between authors and screenwriters. With a rich history of recognizing excellence in adaptations, the USC Scripter Awards continue to shine a light on the art of storytelling.
