Writers’ Guild of America Nominates Some, Shuns Others

By our guest blogger, Lita Robinson

Variety recently announced this year’s list of WGA nominations. To no one’s surprise, some of the contenders for Best Original Screenplay include "Avatar," "A Serious Man" and "The Hurt Locker." The lineup for Best Adapted Screenplay includes "Precious," "Julie & Julia" and "Up In The Air," among others.

However, what is surprising is the long list of screenplays that have enjoyed commercial success over the past year but have been excluded from WGA consideration, including "An Education," "The Road" and "Inglourious Basterds."

The reasons for each rejection are different, but seem to stem mainly from a tightening in the rules of eligibility. Now, the WGA is stringently denying consideration to any screenplay not penned by a member of the WGA (even if that person is Quentin Tarantino) or not otherwise “written under the jurisdiction of the WGA.”

In what seems like an extreme example, the WGA is also denying consideration to "An Education," written by British novelist Nick Hornby. Though Hornby is a full-fledged member of the WGA, he is not a member of the British WGA chapter; apparently, not being registered with your local chapter is enough to get you thrown out of the party all together. Other successful screenplays being denied consideration include "Up," "District 9" and "In The Loop."

Keep an eye out for the awards, coming up on February 20, 2010, well ahead of this year’s Oscars on March 7th.