The 38th USC Libraries Scripter Awards recognized outstanding contributions in screenwriting and literary adaptation on March 16, 2024. The prestigious ceremony highlighted the achievements of the creators behind Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another and the Netflix limited series Death By Lightning.
In the film category, Paul Thomas Anderson and original author Thomas Pynchon won for their collaboration on One Battle After Another, a multifaceted crime drama inspired by Pynchon’s 1990 novel. This accolade adds to the film’s impressive accolades, which include wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, as well as 13 Oscar nominations. Anderson and Pynchon previously received a nomination from the USC Scripters in 2014 for their work on Inherent Vice, also based on Pynchon’s writing.
The script for One Battle After Another triumphed over notable contenders, including adaptations of Frankenstein, Hamnet, Peter Hujar’s Day, and Train Dreams.
In the episodic series category, screenwriter Mike Makowsky and author Candice Millard took home the award for Death By Lightning. The four-part Netflix series draws from Millard’s nonfiction book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President. The series examines the events leading to the assassination of President James Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon, at the hands of Charles Guiteau, played by Matthew Macfadyen.
The USC Libraries Scripter Awards ceremony took place at the university’s Town and Gown ballroom, where attendees enjoyed a black-tie event hosted by Melissa Just, the dean of USC Libraries.
In addition to the awards for screenwriting, crime novelist Michael Connelly received the USC Libraries Scripter Literary Achievement Award. The honor was presented by Titus Welliver, who is known for his role as the iconic detective Harry Bosch in the Prime Video series Bosch and its spinoffs.
This year’s awards not only celebrate exceptional storytelling across genres but also emphasize the vital connection between literature and screenwriting. The recognition of these works highlights the importance of original authors in the adaptation process, further enriching the landscape of contemporary storytelling.
