Of the six adapted screenplays that have, so far, won accolades for being the best from various precursors, Carol and Anomalisa are the only ones missing from this list. It’s not surprising that Anomalisa is absent, because it’s based on a screenplay, not on a literary piece. The USC Scripters reward the original author of source material and the adapting screenwriter and, to my recollection, have never honored a film that wasn’t based on a book. That doesn’t explain Carol‘s absence. That film should have definitely been here, but was left off for The End of the Tour which hadn’t been a player in most of the precursor season.

The only other major player in the Adapted Screenplay competition that didn’t make this list was Steve Jobs, another script that seemed like it should have been a stronger player with this group. Since the USC Scripter Awards is a major Oscar forecaster, especially in terms of winners, and has no restrictions against non-guild signatories, it can often be more instructive. Both Room and Brooklyn weren’t eligible for WGA and appeared here. Comparing the two lists, The Big Short and The Martian are the only two overlapping titles. Trumbo didn’t impress this group as it did the WGA, but the Academy is closer in representation to WGA than it is to the USC Libraries selection committee.

The Nominations

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Big Short
Brooklyn
The End of the Tour
The Martian
Room

USC Scripter Data

Year Founded: 1988
First Awards: 1987 (29)