Arts
Eric Roth Wins Scripter Literary Award
- Eric Roth: "This award will make me stay up writing even later to try and get it right.”
- Photo/Alex J. Berliner
By Bill Dotson on January 22, 2010 7:55 AM
The USC Libraries have announced that screenwriter Eric Roth has won the 2010 Scripter Literary Achievement Award for his sustained contributions to the art of film adaptation.
Roth previously won an Academy Award for his adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel Forrest Gump and earned Oscar nominations for his work on Munich, The Insider and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, also a 2009 Scripter finalist.
Dean Catherine Quinlan and the Friends of the USC Libraries introduced the Scripter Literary Achievement Award in 2007 and presented the award for the first time in 2008. The libraries now present the award annually alongside the Scripter Award for each year’s best adaptation of the printed word into a feature film.
“I love the sound of literary and script in the same breath,” Roth said. “I’m proud to be considered part of a tradition of literature, film literature. This award will make me stay up writing even later to try and get it right.”
Screenwriter Steven Zaillian will present the Literary Achievement Award to Roth at the Feb. 6 gala at Doheny Memorial Library.
Roth launched his screenwriting career soon after graduating from film school. He gravitated toward literary adaptations, helping to craft film versions of the novels The Drowning Pool and The Onion Field.
He emerged as one of Hollywood’s leading screenwriters during the 1990s, writing the original screenplay for Mr. Jones and drawing inspiration from novels and journalism for Forrest Gump, The Horse Whisperer and The Insider.
Most recently, he wrote the screenplay and shared the story credit with Robin Swicord for the Oscar- and Scripter-nominated The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. His other recent screenplays include the acclaimed Muhammad Ali biopic Ali and The Good Shepherd.
Roth is the third recipient of the Literary Achievement Award, following honorees Zaillian in 2008 and Michael Chabon in 2009.
Zaillian’s screenwriting credits include Awakenings, Schindler’s List, A Civil Action and Gangs of New York. Chabon took the honor last year in recognition of a growing body of adapted works that includes The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and Wonder Boys.
The libraries will announce the winners of the 2010 Scripter Award for the best cinematic adaptation of the written word at the Feb. 6 event. The writers of Crazy Heart, District 9, An Education, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and Up in the Air are vying for top honors at the 22nd annual Scripter ceremony.
The USC Libraries welcome Audi of America as the transportation sponsor for Scripter 2010. Audi has made available a fleet of Q7 TDI clean-diesel vehicles to transport special guests to the black-tie gala. The vehicle is one of America’s first highly efficient, seven-passenger luxury SUVs offering drivers improved fuel economy and cleaner emissions.
Final Draft Inc. also has supported Scripter 2010 by providing copies of Final Draft 8 to USC students. The libraries will make the scriptwriting software available through the Leavey Library Multimedia Commons. Final Draft will complement the suite of authoring software the Multimedia Commons offers students and will provide a valuable tool for storytelling and completing coursework while drawing on the riches of the libraries’ collections.
For tickets to the Scripter award ceremony, call (213) 740-2328 or e-mail scripter@usc.edu. Information is also available at http://scripter.usc.edu
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