The USC Scripter Award (Scripter) is the name given to an award presented annually by the University of Southern California (USC) to honor both authors and screenwriters. Starting in 1988, the USC Libraries Board of Councilors award the year's best film adaptation of a printed work, recognizing the original author and the screenwriter.

Quick Facts Awarded for, Country ...
USC Scripter Awards
Awarded forWriting achievements in film adaptation
CountryUnited States
Presented byUniversity of Southern California (USC)
First awarded1988; 36 years ago (1988)
Websitelibraries.usc.edu/scripter
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In 2016, a second Scripter award, for episodic series adaption, was added. The Literary Achievement Award honors significant contributions to storytelling across form, genre, and medium. The Ex Libris Award recognizes long-time supporters of the USC Libraries. The latter two awards are presented on an occasional basis. Per the Scripter Awards website, "Scripter celebrates writers and writing, collaboration, and the profound results of transforming one artistic medium into another. It stands as an emblem of libraries’ ability to inspire creative and scholarly achievement."[1]

Film

1980s

1990s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Nominees Source Material
1990AwakeningsSteven ZaillianThe memoir by Oliver Sacks
Dances with Wolves Michael Blake The novel by Blake
Goodfellas Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese The book Wiseguy by Pileggi
Misery William Goldman The novel by Stephen King
Presumed Innocent Frank Pierson and Alan J. Pakula The novel by Scott Turow
1991Fried Green TomatoesFannie Flagg and Carol SobieskiThe novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Flagg
At Play in the Fields of the Lord Hector Babenco and Jean-Claude Carriere The novel by Peter Matthiessen
The Prince of Tides Pat Conroy and Becky Johnston The novel by Conroy
Rambling Rose Calder Willingham The novel by Willingham
The Silence of the Lambs Ted Tally The novel by Thomas Harris
1992A River Runs Through ItRichard FriedenbergThe novella by Norman Maclean
Enchanted April Peter Barnes The novel by Elizabeth von Arnim
Howards End Ruth Prawler Jhabvala The novel by E.M. Forestor
Malcolm X Arnold Perl and Spike Lee The book by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
The Player Michael Tolkin The novel by Tolkin
1993Schindler's ListSteven ZaillianThe novel Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
The Age of Innocence Jay Cocks and Martin Scorsese The novel by Edith Wharton
The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan and Ronald Bass The novel by Tan
The Remains of the Day Ruth Prawer Jhabvala The novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
Searching for Bobby Fischer Steve Zaillian The novel Searching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess by Fred Waitzkin
1994The Shawshank RedemptionFrank DarabontThe short story Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Forrest Gump Eric Roth The novel by Winston Groom
Little Women Robin Swicord The novel by Louisa May Alcott
Nobody's Fool Robert Benton The novel by Richard Russo
Quiz Show Paul Attanasio The memoir Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties by Richard Goodwin
1995Sense and SensibilityEmma ThompsonThe novel by Jane Austen
Apollo 13 William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert The book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffry Kluger
Carrington Christopher Hampton The book Lytton Strachey by Michael Holroyd
Devil in a Blue Dress Carl Franklin The book by Walter Mosley
Get Shorty Scott Frank The novel by Elmore Leonard
1996The English PatientAnthony MinghellaThe novel by Michael Ondaatje
Cold Comfort Farm Malcolm Bradbury The novel by Stella Gibbons
Dead Man Walking Tim Robbins The book by Helen Prejean
Emma Douglas McGrath The novel by Jane Austen
The Portrait of a Lady Laura Jones The novel by Henry James
1997L.A. ConfidentialCurtis Hanson and Brian HelgelandThe novel by James Ellroy
Donnie BrascoPaul AttanasioThe book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley
The RainmakerFrancis Ford CoppolaThe novel by John Grisham
The Sweet HereafterAtom EgoyanThe novel by Russell Banks
The Wings of the DoveHossein AminiThe novel by Henry James
1998A Civil ActionSteven ZaillianThe book by Jonathan Harr
Gods and MonstersBill CondonThe novel Father of Frankenstein by Christopher Bram
Primary ColorsElaine MayThe book Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics by Joe Klein
A Simple PlanScott B. SmithThe novel by Smith
The Thin Red LineTerrence MalickThe novel by James Jones
1999The HurricaneArmyan Bernstein and Dan GordonThe autobiography The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To 45472 by Rubin Carter; the book Lazarus and the Hurricane: The Freeing of Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton
The Cider House RulesJohn IrvingThe novel by Irving
The End of the AffairNeil JordanThe novel by Graham Greene
The Green MileFrank DarabontThe novel by Stephen King
The Talented Mr. RipleyAnthony MinghellaThe novel by Patricia Highsmith
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2000s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Nominees Source Material
2000Wonder BoysSteve KlovesThe book by Michael Chabon
All the Pretty HorsesTed TallyThe novel by Cormac McCarthy
ChocolatRobert Nelson JacobsThe novel by Joanne Harris
High FidelityD. V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, and Scott RosenbergThe novel by Nick Hornby
The House of MirthTerence DaviesThe novel by Edith Wharton
2001A Beautiful MindAkiva GoldsmanThe book by Sylvia Nasar
Bridget Jones's DiaryAndrew Davies, Helen Fielding, and Richard CurtisThe novel by Fielding
In the BedroomRobert Festinger and Todd FieldThe short story Killings by Andre Dubus
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingFran Walsh, Peter Jackson, and Philippa BoyensThe novel The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Shipping NewsRobert Nelson JacobsThe novel by E. Annie Proulx
2002The HoursDavid HareThe novel by Michael Cunningham
About SchmidtAlexander Payne and Jim TaylorThe novel by Louis Begley
AdaptationCharlie KaufmanThe book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersFran Walsh, Stephen Sinclair, Peter Jackson, and Philippa BoyensThe novel The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
The PianistRonald HarwoodThe memoir by Władysław Szpilman
2003Mystic RiverBrian HelgelandThe novel by Dennis Lehane
SeabiscuitGary RossThe book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
Cold MountainAnthony MinghellaThe novel by Charles Frazier
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingFran Walsh, Peter Jackson, and Philippa BoyensThe novel Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldPeter Weir and John ColleeThe novel by Patrick O'Brian
2004Million Dollar BabyPaul HaggisThe book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole
The Bourne SupremacyTony GilroyThe novel by Robert Ludlum
The Door in the FloorTod WilliamsThe novel A Widow for One Year by John Irving
Friday Night LightsPeter Berg, Buzz Bissinger, and David Aaron CohenThe book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger
SidewaysAlexander Payne and Jim TaylorThe novel by Rex Pickett
2005CapoteDan FuttermanThe novel by Gerald Clarke
Brokeback MountainLarry McMurtry and Diana OssanaThe short story by E. Annie Proulx
The Constant GardenerJeffrey CaineThe novel by John le Carré
A History of ViolenceJosh OlsonThe graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke
SyrianaStephen GaghanThe memoir See No Evil by Robert Baer
2006Children of MenDavid Arata, Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, and Timothy J. SextonThe novel The Children of Men by P. D. James
The Devil Wears PradaAline Brosh McKennaThe novel by Lauren Weisberger
The IllusionistNeil BurgerThe short story Eisenheim the IllusionistSteven Millhauser
The Last King of ScotlandJeremy Brock and Peter MorganThe novel by Giles Foden
Notes on a ScandalPatrick MarberThe novel by Zoë Heller
2007No Country for Old MenJoel Coen and Ethan CoenThe novel by Cormac McCarthy
AtonementChristopher HamptonThe novel by Ian McEwan
Into the WildSean PennThe book by Jon Krakauer
There Will Be BloodPaul Thomas AndersonThe novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair
ZodiacJames VanderbiltThe book by Robert Graysmith
2008Slumdog MillionaireSimon BeaufoyThe novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup
The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonEric Roth and Robin SwicordThe short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Iron ManMark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum and Matt HollowayThe comic by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby
The ReaderDavid HareThe novel by Bernhard Schlink
Revolutionary RoadJustin HaytheThe novel by Richard Yates
2009Up in the AirJason Reitman and Sheldon TurnerThe novel by Walter Kirn
Crazy HeartScott CooperThe novel by Thomas Cobb
District 9Neill Blomkamp and Terri TatchellThe short film Alive in Joburg by Blomkamp
An EducationNick HornbyThe memoir by Lynn Barber
PreciousGeoffrey S. FletcherThe novel Push by Sapphire
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2010s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Nominees Source Material
2010
[2]
The Social NetworkAaron SorkinThe book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich
127 HoursSimon Beaufoy and Danny BoyleThe book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
The Ghost WriterRobert Harris and Roman PolanskiThe novel The Ghost by Harris
True GritJoel Coen and Ethan CoenThe novel by Charles Portis
Winter's BoneDebra Granik and Anne RoselliniThe novel by Daniel Woodrell
2011
[3]
The DescendantsAlexander Payne, Jim Rash, and Nat FaxonThe novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings
A Dangerous MethodChristopher HamptonThe play The Talking Cure by Hampton
Jane EyreMoira BuffiniThe novel by Charlotte Brontë
MoneyballAaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, and Stan ChervinThe book by Michael Lewis
Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyBridget O'Connor and Peter StraughanThe novel by John le Carré
2012
[4]
ArgoChris TerrioThe book The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the article The Great Escape by Joshuah Bearman
Beasts of the Southern WildLucy Alibar and Benh ZeitlinThe play Juicy and Delicious by Alibar
Life of PiDavid MageeThe novel by Yann Martel
LincolnTony KushnerThe book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen ChboskyThe novel by Chbosky
Silver Linings PlaybookDavid O. RussellThe novel by Matthew Quick
2013
[5]
12 Years a SlaveJohn RidleyThe memoir by Solomon Northup
Captain PhillipsBilly RayThe book A Captain's Duty by Richard Phillips and Stephan Talty
PhilomenaSteve Coogan and Jeff PopeThe book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
The Spectacular NowScott Neustadter and Michael H. WeberThe novel by Tim Tharp
What Maisie KnewCarroll Cartwright and Nancy DoyneThe novel by Henry James
2014
[6]
The Imitation GameGraham MooreThe book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges
Gone GirlGillian FlynnThe novel by Flynn
Inherent VicePaul Thomas AndersonThe novel by Thomas Pynchon
The Theory of EverythingAnthony McCartenThe book Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking by Jane Hawking
WildNick HornbyThe memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
2015
[7]
The Big ShortAdam McKay and Charles RandolphThe book by Michael Lewis
BrooklynNick HornbyThe novel by Colm Tóibín
The End of the TourDonald MarguliesThe memoir Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself by David Lipsky
The MartianDrew GoddardThe novel by Andy Weir
RoomEmma DonoghueThe novel by Donoghue
2016
[8]
MoonlightBarry JenkinsThe play Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney
ArrivalEric HeissererThe short story Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang
FencesAugust WilsonThe play by Wilson
Hidden FiguresTheodore Melfi and Allison SchroederThe book by Margot Lee Shetterly
LionLuke DaviesThe memoir A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose
2017
[9]
Call Me by Your NameJames IvoryThe novel by André Aciman
The Disaster ArtistScott Neustadter and Michael H. WeberThe book by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell
LoganScott Frank, Michael Green, and James MangoldThe comics by John Romita Sr. and Len Wein
The Lost City of ZJames GrayThe book by David Grann
Molly's GameAaron SorkinThe memoir by Molly Bloom
MudboundDee Rees and Virgil WilliamsThe novel by Hillary Jordan
Wonder WomanZack Snyder, Allan Heinberg, and Jason FuchsThe comic by William Moulton Marston
2018
[10]
Leave No TraceDebra Granik and Anne RoselliniThe novel My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Black PantherRyan Coogler and Joe Robert ColeThe comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Can You Ever Forgive Me?Nicole Holofcener and Jeff WhittyThe memoir by Lee Israel
The Death of StalinArmando Iannucci, David Schneider, and Ian MartinThe comics La Mort de Staline by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin
If Beale Street Could TalkBarry JenkinsThe novel by James Baldwin
2019
[11][12]
Little WomenGreta GerwigThe novel by Louisa May Alcott
Dark WatersMario Correa and Matthew Michael CarnahanThe article "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare" by Nathaniel Rich
The IrishmanSteven ZaillianThe book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
Jojo RabbitTaika WaititiThe novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
The Two PopesAnthony McCartenThe play The Pope by McCarten
Close

2020s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Nominees Source Material
2020
[13]
NomadlandChloé ZhaoThe book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder
Bad EducationMike MakowskyThe New York magazine article "The Bad Superintendent" by Robert Kolker
First CowJonathan Raymond and Kelly ReichardtThe novel The Half-Life by Raymond
Ma Rainey's Black BottomRuben Santiago-HudsonThe play by August Wilson
One Night in Miami...Kemp PowersThe play by Powers
2021
[14]
The Lost DaughterMaggie GyllenhaalThe novel by Elena Ferrante
DuneEric Roth, Jon Spaihts, and Denis VilleneuveThe novel by Frank Herbert
PassingRebecca HallThe novel by Nella Larsen
The Power of the DogJane CampionThe novel by Thomas Savage
The Tragedy of MacbethJoel CoenThe play Macbeth by William Shakespeare
2022
[15]
Women TalkingSarah PolleyThe novel by Miriam Toews
Guillermo del Toro's PinocchioGuillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale, and Matthew RobbinsThe fairy tale The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
LivingKazuo IshiguroThe novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
She SaidRebecca LenkiewiczThe nonfiction book She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Top Gun: Maverick (nomination withdrawn)[16]Peter Craig, Ehren Kruger, Justin Marks, Christopher McQuarrie, and Eric WarrenThe characters from the 1983 California magazine article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay
2023
[17]
American FictionCord JeffersonThe novel Erasure by Percival Everett
Killers of the Flower MoonEric Roth and Martin ScorseseThe nonfiction book by David Grann
OppenheimerChristopher NolanThe nonfiction book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
OriginAva DuVernayThe nonfiction book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Poor ThingsTony McNamaraThe novel by Alasdair Gray
Close

Television

2010s

More information Year, Program ...
Year Program Nominees Source Material
2015Show Me a HeroDavid Simon and William F. ZorziThe book by Lisa Belkin
Game of Thrones ("Hardhome")David Benioff and D. B. WeissThe series of novels A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
The Leftovers ("Axis Mundi")Damon Lindelof and Jacqueline HoytThe novel by Tom Perrotta
The Man in the High Castle ("The New World")Frank SpotnitzThe novel by Philip K. Dick
Masters of Sex ("Full Ten Count")Michelle AshfordThe biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love by Thomas Maier
2016The Night ManagerDavid FarrThe novel by John le Carré
The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("Manna from Heaven")Scott Alexander and Larry KaraszewskiThe book The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin
Game of Thrones ("The Winds of Winter")David Benioff and D. B. WeissThe series of novels A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
The Man in the High Castle ("Fallout")Erik OlesonThe novel by Philip K. Dick
Orange Is the New Black ("Toast Can't Never Be Bread Again")Tara Herrmann and Jenji KohanThe memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman
2017The Handmaid's Tale ("Offred")Bruce MillerThe novel by Margaret Atwood
Big Little Lies ("You Get What You Need")David E. KelleyThe novel by Liane Moriarty
Alias GraceSarah PolleyThe novel by Margaret Atwood
Genius ("Einstein: Chapter One")Noah Pink and Ken BillerThe book Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksPeter Landesman, Alexander Woo and George C. WolfeThe book by Rebecca Skloot
Mindhunter ("Chapter 10")Joe Penhall and Jennifer HaleyThe book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
2018A Very English ScandalRussell T DaviesThe book by John Preston
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story ("The Man Who Would Be Vogue")Tom Rob SmithThe book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History by Maureen Orth
The Handmaid's Tale ("Holly")Bruce Miller and Kira SnyderThe novel by Margaret Atwood
The Looming Tower ("9/11")Dan Futterman and Ali SelimThe novel by Lawrence Wright
Patrick Melrose ("Bad News")David NichollsThe novels by Edward St Aubyn
Sharp Objects ("Vanish")Marti NoxonThe novel by Gillian Flynn
2019FleabagPhoebe Waller-BridgeThe one-woman show by Waller-Bridge
Fosse/Verdon ("Nowadays")Joel Fields and Steven LevensonThe biography Fosse by Sam Wasson
Killing Eve ("Nice and Neat")Emerald FennellThe novella series Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings
Unbelievable ("Episode 1")Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon and Ayelet WaldmanThe news article "An Unbelievable Story of Rape" by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong
Watchmen ("This Extraordinary Being")Damon Lindelof and Cord JeffersonThe comic by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
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2020s

More information Year, Program ...
Year Program Nominees Source Material
2020The Queen's Gambit ("Openings")Scott FrankThe novel by Walter Tevis
The Good Lord Bird ("Meet the Lord")Mark Richard and Ethan HawkeThe novel by James McBride
Normal People ("Episode 5")Sally Rooney and Alice BirchThe novel by Rooney
The Plot Against America ("Part 6")Ed Burns and David SimonThe novel by Philip Roth
Unorthodox ("Part 1")Anna WingerThe autobiography Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman
2021Dopesick (“The People vs. Purdue Pharma")Danny StrongThe nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy
Maid ("Dollar Store")Molly Smith MetzlerThe memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land by Stephanie Land
Station Eleven ("Wheel of Fire")Patrick SomervilleThe novel by Emily St. John Mandel
The Underground Railroad ("Indiana Winter")Barry JenkinsThe novel by Colson Whitehead
WandaVision ("Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience")Jac SchaefferThe Marvel Comics characters of the name same created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
2022Slow Horses ("Failure's Contagious")Will SmithThe novel by Mick Herron
The Crown ("Couple 31")Peter MorganThe play The Audience by Peter Morgan
Fleishman Is in Trouble ("The Liver")Taffy Brodesser-AknerThe novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Tokyo Vice ("Yoshino")J. T. RogersThe memoir Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein
Under the Banner of Heaven ("When God Was Love")Dustin Lance BlackThe nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer
2023Slow Horses ("Negotiating With Tigers")Will SmithThe novel by Mick Herron
The Crown ("Sleep, Dearie Sleep")Peter MorganThe play The Audience by Peter Morgan
Daisy Jones & the Six ("Track 5: Fire")Scott NeustadterThe novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Last of Us ("Long, Long Time")Craig MazinThe video game by Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty ("The New World")Max Borenstein, Rodney Barnes, and Jim HechtThe nonfiction work Showtime by Jeff Pearlman
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Literary Achievement

Ex Libris

  • 2015 – Elaine Leventhal
  • 2017 – Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan
  • 2018 – Valerie and Ronald Sugar
  • 2019 – George E. Isaacs
  • 2020 – Glenn Sonnenberg
  • 2021 – Greg Lucas

See also

References

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