ARGO Navigates to USC Libraries Scripter Win

Co-chaired by Golden Globe-winning screenwriter Naomi Foner and USC screenwriting professor and vice president of the Writers Guild of America, West, Howard Rodman, the Scripter selection committee chose "Argo" from a field of 84 eligible films. A tie in the first round of voting resulted in six finalist films this year, rather than the usual five.

The 41-member selection committee included film critics Leonard Maltin and Kenneth Turan; screenwriters Geoffrey Fletcher, Eric Roth, and Robin Swicord; authors Michael Chabon and Mona Simpson; and USC deans Catherine Quinlan of the USC Libraries, Elizabeth M. Daley of the School of Cinematic Arts and Madeline Puzo of the School of Dramatic Arts.

The USC Libraries also honored Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana with the Literary Achievement Award for their body of work to date. USC President C. L. Max Nikias presented the honor.

"With deep reserves of imagination and intellect, Mr. McMurtry and Ms. Ossana inspire USC's entire creative-arts community," Nikias said. "And for this, we warmly salute them."

Over the course of their writing partnership McMurtry and Ossana have collaborated on dozens of novels and screenplays, including "Brokeback Mountain,"which won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as the award-winning miniseries "Streets of Laredo," "Dead Man's Walk," and "Johnson County War."They are currently collaborating on the screen adaptation of Paulette Jiles's novel "The Color of Lightning."

For more information about Scripter, visit scripter.usc.edu.

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