2014 Scripter Awards Jump Off The Page
Do you care about Leavey Library? No? What if I told you that the writers of this year’s most acclaimed films, did? What if Helen Mirren did? What if the writer of Chinatown, Robert Towne, did? Would it matter to you more?
This year’s Scripters Awards, a ceremony to honor the best adaptations from books to film, was in fact held and attended by people who sincerely were concerned for Leavey’s future.
A red carpet was set up in front of Doheny in true Hollywood style. An elegant evening affair, the writers of "12 Years A Slave", "What Maisie Knew", "Captain Phillips", "The Spectacular Now", and "Philomena" gathered in black tie attire to celebrate a love of literature and translating it into film.
The guests, which included Steve Coogan, the writer, director, and star of "Philomena", (who you might recognize from his more commercial work in "Night at The Museum" or "Tropic Thunder") and USC’s own Jack Epps Jr., head of the Writing for Screen and Television Department at our School of Cinematic Arts (and writer of "Top Gun" might I add) were treated to a four-course meal after an auction of vintage copies of classic books. All the proceeds went to renovate Leavey Library.
The night was defined by an appreciation of not just film, but its literary roots. Only here are the writers of the screenplay nominated alongside with authors who wrote their inspiration; historical icons such as acclaimed writer Henry James and Solomon Northup, the freeman who was forced into 12 years of slavery) were among the hopefuls for this prestigious award.
While the nominees awaited for dinner chairs Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford to announce the most accomplished adaptation of the past year, Robert Towne, writer of "Chinatown", was awarded for lifetime achievement by none other than his own daughter, a current USC student.
Screenwriter John Ridley and the late Solomon Northup, author of "12 Years A Slave", won the 26th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award for best book-to-film adaptation. "12 Years A Slave has been nominated for hundreds of film awards this years. It was awarded the 2014 Golden Globe for Best Picture and has been nominated for nine Oscars including Best Screenplay.
Although it may be over 150 years sinces Northup’s death, the deep emotional connection to his struggle and survival was more than expressed when he along with screenwriter John Ridley won this year’s award. With a cracking voice and tearful eyes Ridley honored his inspiration and asked his descendants in the audience to stand. Northup’s memory was deeply celebrated along with the passion of Hollywood’s finest for the written word, which propelled them both the prominence.