Graham Moore and Andrew Hodges take the 27th-anniversary
honor.
Screenwriter Graham Moore and author Andrew Hodges received the
27th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award for “The Imitation Game.”
Selection committee chair Howard Rodman announced the winners at
the black-tie event on Saturday, Jan. 31, at USC’s historic Doheny
Memorial Library.
From left to right: Scripter Selection
Committee Chair Howard Rodman, Scripter Award-winning screenwriter
Graham Moore, Dean of the USC Libraries Catherine Quinlan, USC
Libraries Literary Achievement Award winner Walter Mosley, and
master of ceremonies Glenn Sonnenberg (Photo: Business Wire)
Moore based his adaptation on “Alan Turing: The Enigma,” a 1983
biography by Hodges of the brilliant British World War II
code-breaker and computer pioneer who was later persecuted for his
homosexuality. Rodman accepted the award on behalf of Hodges, who
teaches mathematics at Oxford University’s Wadham College.
“Alan Turing never got to stand on a stage and hear people
applaud his name,” Moore said in his acceptance speech. “And I do
right now, and that is a profound injustice. All that I can do is
spend the rest of my life endeavoring to repair it.”
“The Imitation Game’s” Scripter win adds to the accolades for
the Weinstein Co. film, which has been nominated for eight Academy
Awards and eight BAFTAs.
Scripter, established by the Friends of the USC Libraries in
1988, honors the screenwriter of the year’s most accomplished
cinematic adaptation as well as the author of the written work upon
which the screenplay is based. Scripter is the only award of its
kind that recognizes authors of the original work alongside the
adapting screenwriters.
USC Libraries Dean Catherine Quinlan welcomed the attendees
gathered in the Los Angeles Times Reference Room of Doheny Memorial
Library, and noted that the proceeds from the night’s event
benefited the USC Cinematic Arts Library.
“Our Cinematic Arts Library is a tangible embodiment of cinema
history and of the cultural history of the world,” Quinlan said.
“It connects our students and scholars from near and far with
knowledge that exists nowhere else but here, knowledge that makes
possible their discoveries in the art, craft, and business of
making films.”
Chaired by USC screenwriting professor and vice president of the
Writers Guild of America, West, Howard Rodman, the Scripter
selection committee chose “The Imitation Game” from a field of 97
eligible films.
Rodman also presented writer Walter Mosley with the Literary
Achievement Award for his prizewinning career encompassing a range
of genres from mystery to science fiction, erotica to
nonfiction.
Mosley, a native of Southern California, has set much of his
work there, including his “Easy” Rawlins series that features a
black detective working in post-war Los Angeles. He is currently
working on a Broadway version of his first novel, “Devil in a Blue
Dress,” which was adapted in 1995 into a film starring Denzel
Washington.
“In one stroke, Walter stood the crime genre on its head,”
Rodman said. “And in doing so, over the course of a 25-year career,
has triumphantly turned the world 180 degrees.”
In receiving the award, Mosley credited libraries for their
central role in guaranteeing intellectual freedom and a civil
society, “By making libraries stronger we make America
stronger.”
This year’s event featured a silent auction, the proceeds of
which support the renovation of USC’s Cinematic Arts Library.
In-kind donors to the event and auction included AOC, Actuant
Corporation, Al Brooks Tickets, Alexander Denk, Allison Adato, Alma
Books Ltd., American Eye Institute, Anchor Distilling Company, Ann
Hill, Anthony Solorzano, At Your Side Private Exercise, Averill's
Flathead Lake Lodge, Bacara Resort & Spa, Badgley Mischka,
BENJAMIN with Negin Zand, Bennett Farms, Bonny Doon Vineyard,
Bouchon Bistro, Broadway Books, Burton Morris, Carol Muske-Dukes,
Carol Soucek King, Richard King, Chris Lahti, Christine Ofiesh,
Cynthia Baseman, Daryle Ann and Mark Giardino, David Lebovitz,
David St. John, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the San Diego County
Fair, Faith & Flower, Feld Entertainment, Final Draft, Focus
Features, Fox Searchlight, Fred Kayne, Gearys Beverly Hills, Geffen
Playhouse, Glenn Sonnenberg, Gloria Kaplan, Hang Zhang, Hayley
Kaplan, Health Allie, Hector Aguilar, Hotel Del Coronado, Hotel
Indigo Del Mar, Hotel Kabuki, Howard Rodman, Jack Lindquist, Jar,
Joel Prell, Jon Summers, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Kenneth Breisch,
KFK Jewelers, LA Contemporary Dance Company, LA Opera, LA Phil,
LACMA, Laila Lalami, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, Laura Casner,
Left Brain Travel, Leo Braudy, Lisa Barkett, Lisa Dixon, Loews
Regency Hotel, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Clippers,
Los Angeles Dodgers, M. Kantor & Associates, Mark Danielewski,
Mark Koenig, Matthew Kenney Cuisine, Maureen Furniss, Michael
Kheshvadjian, Motif Seattle and Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails, Myrna
Oken and Montage Hotels & Resorts, Neal Baseman and Twentieth
Century Fox Television, Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate, Oliverio
at Avalon Hotel, One of A Kind Glass Designs and Patsy Dewey,
Osteria Mozza, Pacific Dining Car, Penguin Books, Piel Skin Care,
Porta Via, Pro SUP Shop, Richelle Gribble, Robert Plumleigh, Sandra
Tsing Loh, Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) San Diego, Seattle
Seahawks, Shelley Berman, Silver King, South Beverly Grill, St.
Regis San Francisco, Stephen's Hay and Grain, Steven Travers, T.C.
Boyle, Tank Town USA, Ted Ushirogata and the Academy of Magical
Arts, Inc., The Belvedere at the Peninsula Hotel, The Fearey Group,
The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, The Rosenzweig Company, The Wallis
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, The Weinstein Company,
U.S. Senator Dean Heller, United Artists Media Group, USC
Athletics, USC Office of the President, Villa Aurora, Warner Bros.
Pictures, Will Ferrell, Wilshire Center Dental Group, and Wine of
the Month Club.
For more information about Scripter—including additional images
from the ceremony—visit scripter.usc.edu.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150131005017/en/
USC LibrariesHugh McHarg, (213) 740-1405Associate Dean for
Planning and Communicationshmcharg@usc.edu