Last night The Writers Guild Awards honored outstanding writing in film, television, new media, video games, news, radio/audio, promotional, and graphic animation categories. The 2018 Writers Guild Awards (70th Annual) were presented at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, and in New York City at the Edison Ballroom.
The Writers Guild is the last of the four major Hollywood guilds to announce its awards, and the results mean that four different films have won the guild’s five top awards. Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” has been named the best original screenplay for The WGA’s Big Award. Previously, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won the Screen Actors Guild’s ensemble award, while Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” won the top Directors Guild and Producers Guild Awards. Nominations in the WGA’s adapted-screenplay category were an exact match with the Oscar nominees !
Since the year 2000, 13 of the 18 Best Original Screenplay Winners have gone on to win the Academy Award in that category, as have 12 of the Best Adapted Screenplay Winners. One of the WGA winners goes on to win the Oscar Statue for Best Picture about half the time !
While “Call Me by Your Name” was a clear favorite in the adapted-screenplay category, and will be a prohibitive frontrunner at the Oscars, the original-screenplay category is considered a very close race between “Get Out,” “Lady Bird” and “The Shape of Water,” and one in which the WGA results could have real repercussions in the Best Picture race.
While the Directors Guild and Producers guild wins for “The Shape of Water” still make it a favorite to win, the Writers Guild victory for Peele and “Get Out” position it as a real contender in the same way that WGA wins in the past did for “Moonlight,” “Spotlight” and “Crash,” among many others.
The Top Reporters came out for The 70th Annual Writers Guild Awards , and an All – Star lineup of Stars , and WGA & Oscar Nominees :
Emmy and Grammy-winning actor-writer-comedian Patton Oswalt (Happy!, A.P. Bio, Annihilation) hosted the WGAW’s West Coast ceremony. Presenters who appeared in Los Angeles included: Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Glenn Close (Damages, Albert Nobbs); Golden Globe-nominated actress Alison Brie (GLOW, The Post, The Disaster Artist); Emmy-nominated Better Call Saul star, The Post co-star, and Emmy-winning writer Bob Odenkirk; Oscar-nominated Lady Bird screenwriter-director Greta Gerwig; Oscar, Get Out co-star Bradley Whitford; Emmy, and Golden Globe-nominated actress and Speechless co-star Minnie Driver; Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress Jane Lynch (Hollywood Game Night, Manhunt: Unabomber, Criminal Minds, Glee); Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Sir Patrick Stewart (Logan, Blunt Talk); Emmy-nominated actress and Emmy-winning writer Wanda Sykes (black-ish); Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-star Terry Crews; SAG Awards-nominated Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-star and WGA-nominated Parks and Recreation writer Chelsea Peretti; The Jim Jefferies Show star Jim Jefferies; LA to Vegas star and Golden Globe-winning actor Dylan McDermott; Emmy-winning comedian-actress-writer Sarah Silverman (Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles, Bob’s Burgers); Emmy-winning comedian-actress Kathy Griffin (Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List); Ivory Aquino (When We Rise); Rob Riggle (Angie Tribeca, Modern Family, SNL); producers Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher (Divergent, The Great Gatsby); and a live performance by Puddles Pity Party.
In addition, the WGAW presented several honorary awards during its West Coast ceremony: Emmy-winning Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story star Glenn Close presented the WGAW’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement to Emmy-winning writer-producer Alison Cross (Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story, Roe vs. Wade, S.W.A.T.); Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher presented the WGAW’s Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement to Writers Guild and Academy Award-winning screenwriter-director-producer James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good As It Gets); When We Rise co-star Ivory Aquino presented the WGAW’s Valentine Davies Award to Writers Guild and Academy Award-winning screenwriter and LGBTQ rights activist Dustin Lance Black (Milk, When We Rise) for his social activism which has positively impacted the LGBTQ community; Washington Post Executive Editor Martin “Marty” Baron presented the WGAW’s Paul Selvin Award to The Post screenwriters Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, whose Post screenplay embodies the spirit of constitutional and civil rights and liberties, including the First Amendment and freedom of the press.
Attendees at the WGAW’s show included: The Big Sick co-screenwriter/star Kumail Nanjiani and co-screenwriter Emily V. Gordon; Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley and actress Michelle Pfeiffer (The Wizard of Lies, mother!); TV host Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live, 90th Academy Awards); Oscar-nominated Get Out screenwriter/director Jordan Peele; Oscar-nominated The Shape of Water co-screenwriter/director Guillermo del Toro & co-screenwriter Vanessa Taylor; Get Out co-star Catherine Keener; Molly’s Game screenwriter Aaron Sorkin; Good Behavior co-star Joey Kern; The Honorable Adam Schiff; L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz; The OA co-creator/star Brit Marling; Call Me by Your Name screenwriter James Ivory; Nathan For You co-creator/star Nathan Fielder; and Portlandia writer-star Carrie Brownstein. In addition, the Guild commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Hollywood Blacklist, honoring Blacklist survivors Marsha Hunt and Norma Barzman who were in attendance.
The WGAE’s East Coast Ceremony was hosted by writer and comic Amber Ruffin (Late Night with Seth Meyers). Presenters who appeared in New York City included Golden Globe-winner Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel); Emmy Award-winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale); SAG Award-winner Anna Chlumsky (Veep); Academy Award-nominee Lucas Hedges (Lady Bird); two-time Emmy Award-winner Jane Pauley (CBS News Sunday Morning); Writers Guild Award-nominee Anthony Atamanuik (The President Show); late night host Robin Thede (The Rundown with Robin Thede); actress-writer Julie Klausner (Difficult People); late night host Jordan Klepper (The Opposition with Jordan Klepper); and correspondent-writer Laura Grey (The Opposition with Jordan Klepper).
The WGAE presented three honorary awards at the East Coast ceremony. It was a reunion for Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock allums as Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch presented Tina Fey and Robert Carlock with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence and Mentorship. Ken Burns presented the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement to his long-time collaborator Geoffrey C. Ward (The Vietnam War, The Roosevelts, The Civil War). Courtney Simon (As the World Turns) presented the Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild to Hamilton Nolan (Splinter News / Gizmodo Media Group).
Attendees at the WGAE’s show included the Guild’s President and House of Cards creator Beau Willimon; Call Me By Your Name author André Aciman; The Disaster Artist co-screenwriter Michael H. Weber; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks writer-director George C. Wolfe; late night host Seth Meyers; Feud: Bette and Joan writer-producer Michael Zam; The Deuce writer-producer George Pelecanos; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt actress Ellie Kemper;The President Show actor and executive producer Adam Pally; The Americans creators Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit creator Warren Leight; Oz creator Tom Fontana; Dirty Dancing screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein; Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau; acclaimed actor Lawrence Arancio; SAG-AFTRA’s Senior Advisor John McGuire; Teamsters Local 817 President Tommy J. O’Donnell; IATSE International President Matthew Loeb; Writers Guild Initiative President Michael Weller; and former WGAE Presidents Chris Albers and Michael Winship.
FILM WINNERS
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY : Get Out, Written by Jordan Peele; Universal Pictures
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY : Call Me by Your Name, Screenplay by James Ivory; Based on the Novel by André Aciman; Sony Pictures Classics
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY : Jane, Written by Brett Morgen; National Geographic
TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA WINNERS
DRAMA SERIES : The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu
COMEDY SERIES : Veep, Written by Gabrielle Allan, Rachel Axler, Ted Cohen, Jennifer Crittenden, Alex Gregory, Steve Hely, Peter Huyck, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, David Mandel, Ian Maxtone-Graham, Dan Mintz, Lew Morton, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith; HBO
NEW SERIES : The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Renee Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu
ORIGINAL LONG FORM : Flint, Written by Barbara Stepansky; Lifetime
ADAPTED LONG FORM : Big Little Lies, Teleplay by David E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Liane Moriarty; HBO
ADAPTED SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA : “Starboy” (Zac & Mia), Teleplay by Allen Clary and Andrew Rothschild, Based on the novel Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts; go90.com
ANIMATION : “Time’s Arrow” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Kate Purdy; Netflix
EPISODIC DRAMA : “Chicanery” (Better Call Saul), Written by Gordon Smith; AMC
EPISODIC COMEDY : “Rosario’s Quinceanera” (Will & Grace), Written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally; NBC
COMEDY/VARIETY TALK SERIES : Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Writers: Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, Ben Silva, Seena Vali; HBO
COMEDY/VARIETY SKETCH SERIES : Saturday Night Live, Head Writers: Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Bryan Tucker, Writers: James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Neal Brennan, Zack Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Michael Koman, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen, Kent Sublette, Julio Torres; NBC Universal
COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS : 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, Written by Dave Boone; CBS
QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION : Hollywood Game Night, Head Writer: Grant Taylor; Writers: Michael Agbabian, Alex Chauvin, Ann Slichter, Dwight D. Smith; NBC
DAYTIME DRAMA : General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Jean Passanante; Writers: Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O’Connor, Dave Rupel, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Christopher Van Etten, Christopher Whitesell; ABC
CHILDREN’S EPISODIC AND SPECIALS : “An American Girl Story – Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance” (American Girl), Written by May Chan; Amazon
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – CURRENT EVENTS : “Confronting ISIS” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith; PBS
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS : “The Great War, Part II” (American Experience), Written by Stephen Ives; PBS
NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT : “White Helmets” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Katie Kerbstat; CBS News
NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY : “Chief of Chobani” (60 Minutes), Written by Steve Kroft, Oriana Zill de Granados; CBS News
DIGITAL NEWS : “The Super Predators,” Written by Melissa Jeltsen, Dana Liebelson; Huffingtonpost.com
RADIO/AUDIO WINNERS
RADIO/AUDIO DOCUMENTARY : “CBS Radio 90th Anniversary,” Written by Dianne E. James, Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT : “World News This Week: June 9, 2017,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY : “Dishin’ Digital on WCBS-AM,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBS
PROMOTIONAL WINNERS
ON-AIR PROMOTION (RADIO OR TELEVISION) : “CBS Comedy,” Written by Dan Greenberger; CBS Television
VIDEO GAME WINNER
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VIDEOGAME WRITING : Horizon Zero Dawn, Narrative Director John Gonzalez; Lead Writer Benjamin McCaw; Writing by Ben Schroder,Anne Toole; Additional Writing by Dee Warrick, Meg Jayanth; Guerrilla Games.
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