Since its broadcast on television in 2004, the Writers Guild of America Awards have been presented in a rather confusing fashion. And this year was no different. Due to the lack of co-ordination between the East and West Coast ceremonies, there were yet again a certain number of key winners, which were announced before the awards were actually presented. But nonetheless, this does not make the excitement for this year’s big winners any less.
In the three most important film categories, this year’s winners were Spike Jonze for HER, Billy Ray for CAPTAIN PHILLIPS and Sarah Polley for STORIES WE TELL. On the small screen, the biggest winners of the night were 30 Rock and Breaking Bad, both in their final seasons, while Veep and House of Cards were also rewarded.
It was no shock that Jonze won in the category of Best Original Screenplay with his romantic drama HER and film critics the world over are predicting the same outcome at this year’s Academy Awards. Although David O. Russell and Eric Singer offer the biggest competition in the category’s Oscar race with AMERICAN HUSTLE, HER presents a more genuine, original and quirky script, characteristics favoured by the Academy for this category.
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS’S Best Adapted Screenplay win proves less of a reliable prediction for the Academy Awards, as its biggest contender in this category, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, was not eligible for the WGA award. Other high-flyers in this category were BEFORE MIDNIGHT and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, but the award went to Billy Ray, known in the industry for writing the first HUNGER GAMES instalment and for his acclaimed 2003 indie film SHATTERED GLASS.
Although left out of the Academy Race, this year’s Best Documentary Screenplay went to the well deserved STORIES WE TELL. Exploring the nature of myths and storytelling, Sarah Polley’s STORIES WE TELL beat the Oscar nominee DIRTY WARS in this WGA category.
Check out the full list of winners below:
Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jones, HER
Best Adapted Screenplay: Billy Ray, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS
Best Documentary Screenplay: Sarah Polley, STORIES WE TELL
Television Categories
Comedy Series: Veep
Drama Series: Breaking Bad
New Series: House of Cards
Episodic Comedy: Kack Burditt and Robert Carlock, 30 Rock (Hogcock!)
Episodic Drama: Gennifer Hutchison, Breaking Bad (Confessions)
Long Form – Adapted: Shawn Slovo, Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight
Animation: Joel H. Cohen, The Simpsons, (A Test Before Trying)
Comedy or Variety Series: The Colbert Report
Comedy or Variety Specials: Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas
Daytime Drama: Days of Our Lives
Childrens – Episodic & Specials: Vincent Brown, A.N.T. Farm (InfluANTces)
Documentary – Current Events: Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith, Frontline (Egypt in Crisis)
Documentary – Other Than Current Events: Randall MacLowry and Michelle Ferrari, American Experience (Silicon Valley)
News – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary: Michael Rey, Oriana Zill de Granados and Michael Radutzky, 60 Minutes (Lethal Medicine)
News – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report: Lisa Ferri and Matt Negrin, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (Tragedy at Newton)
Quiz and Audience Participation: John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius and Billy Wisse, Jeopardy!
Television Graphic Art and Animation: David Rosen, CBS News Animations: “Brain Injury”, “Pills”, “Bionic Leg”, “Midland Parade”, “Concordia Salvage”
Promotional Writing and Graphic Animation: Erial Tompkins, The Crazy Ones – Building a Better Comedy
Video Game Writing: Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us
Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement: Paul Mazursky
Evelyn F. Burkey Award of Career Achievement: James Schamus
Valentine Davies Award: Sam Simon
