The Writers Guild Awards 2019

By Cheri Fox

The Writers Guild Awards were held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, February 17, 2019. Chelsea Peretti this year’s WGA award show host cleverly and comically entertained the hundreds of writers, journalists, and Hollywood’s that filled the ballroom in Beverly Hills.

Chelsea Peretti WGA 2019 award show host

Producer and actors attended to support their writer nominees, Ron Howard, Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Rachel Bloom and several cast members from many of the shows including SNL and best screenplay nominee film Green Book. Jenji Kohan writer of Orange is the new Black and Weeds received the WGAW’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement ; Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel writers of Parenthood, Splash received WGAW’s Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement presented by Academy award winning producer Ron Howard.

Jenji Kohan, Orange is the new Black, Weeds received WGAW’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award

After a long award show night , the winning screenplay winner was announce and best screenplay went to Eighth Grade, written by Bo Burnham, A24.

WGA Winner Best screenplay went to Eighth Grade, written by Bo Burnham, A24.

The WGA Winner for Adapted Screenplay category, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, Based on the book by Lee Israel, Fox Searchlight.S

WGA Winner for Adapted Screenplay category, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, Based on the book by Lee Israel.

Vice screenwriter Adam Mckay received WGA’s 2019 Paul Selvin Award, in recognition of outstanding achievement in writing for his audacious and subversively comedic film Vice, the unconventional behind the scenes look at former Vice President Dick Cheney’s rise from congressional intern to powerful man. This WGAW’s special award is given to a script which best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties.

The show ran over two and a half hours, attendees were patient to hear all the writers jokes and laughter was buzzing throughout the night to celebrate the many winners in several categories; Dinner was served with a choice of chicken or vegetarian eggplant dish, the diner wasn’t as memorable as the the wine chardonnay and cabernet served compliments of United Talent Agency by Canyon Road, California..

WGA president /screenwriter Howard A Rodman

This year WGA president /screenwriter Howard A Rodman honored Board Member Joan Meyerson with Morgan Cox Award honoree for guild service.

Joan Meyerson WGA award Morgan Cox Award honoree for guild service

The French filmmaker Agnes Varda received WGA’s 2019 Jean Renoir Award for international Screenwriting Achievement recognizes international writer who has advanced literature of motion pictures her writing predates the movement of French New Wave her films belong to the Rive Gauche cinema , viewed as more experimental integrating filmmaking that integrated documentary techniques with avant garde .Her first fim La Pointe Courte, and then Cleo from 5 to 7. At 90 years old she is still writing and an inspiration to all .

Agnes Varda WGA’s 2019 Jean Renoir Award for International Screenwriting Achievement

Agnes Varda 1965

Documentary Screenplay winner Bathtubs Over Broadway, Written by Ozzy Inguanzo & Dava Whisenant; Focus Features.

The winning writing team for the TV, New Media, or News in a Drama Series category The Americans, Written by Peter Ackerman, Hilary Bettis, Joshua Brand, Joel Fields, Sarah Nolen, Stephen Schiff, Justin Weinberger, Joe Weisberg, Tracey Scott Wilson; FX Networks

WGA Nominee Documentary Screenplay, Generation Wealth, Written by Lauren Greenfield; Amazon Studios

The winners in the Comedy Series category The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Written by Kate Fodor, Noah Gardenswartz, Daniel Goldfarb, Jen Kirkman, Sheila Lawrence, Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman Palladino; Prime Video

New Series winner Barry, Written by Alec Berg, Duffy Boudreau, Bill Hader, Emily Heller, Liz Sarnoff, Ben Smith, Sarah Solemani; HBO -

New Series Nominee, Homecoming, Written by Micah Bloomberg, Cami Delavigne, Eli Horowitz, Shannon Houston, Eric Simonson, David Wiener; Prime Video

Complimentary chocolate bar Paramount provided by Valerie in a private room beside the bar with heart shaped chocolate truffles to sweeten the writers and winners palate.

There are several categories and many winners at the WGA awards the list maybe long but the guild honors, recognizes and celebrates all forms of media new, short, long, documentary etc.

Class of Lies, Written by Tessa Leigh Williams; Snapchat -winner

In the Original Long Form category winner Castle Rock, Writers: Marc Bernardin, Scott Brown, Lila Byock, Mark Lafferty, Sam Shaw, Dustin Thomason, Gina Welch, Vinnie Wilhelm; Hulu.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Writers: Maggie Cohn, Tom Rob Smith, Based on the book Vulgar Favors by Maureen Orth; FX Networks -wins in the Adapted Long Form category.

Film Green Book, actor Joseph Cortese walked the red carpet.

Class of Lies, Written by Tessa Leigh Williams; Snapchat -winner in the original short-form new media category. The Walking Dead: Red Machete, Written by Nick Bernardone; AMC.com winner in the adapted short form media category.

In the coveted Animation category winner is Bart’s Not Dead(The Simpsons), Written by Stephanie Gillis; Fox.

Green Book, actor Dimiter Marinov.

Episodic Drama winner Paean To The People (Homeland), Written by Alex Gansa; Showtime, Episodic Comedy winners Chapter One: 'Make Your Mark' (Barry), Written by Alec Berg & Bill Hader; HBO.

Comedy Talk Variety Series; Winner Last Week Tonight with John Oliver; Writers: Tim Carvell, Raquel D’Apice, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Daniel O’Brien, John Oliver, Brian Parise, Owen Parsons, Ben Silva, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Seena Vali, Juli Weiner; HBO . The winner in Comedy Sketch Series Nathan For You, Writers: Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola; Comedy Central.

If Beale Street Could Talk, Nominee Screenplay by Barry Jenkins

The many category winners included Comedy Variety Specials -The Fake News with Ted Nelms, Written by John Aboud, Andrew Blitz, Michael Colton, Ed Helms, Elliott Kalan, Joseph Randazzo, Sara Schaefer; Comedy Central - Quiz and Audience Participation, the winner is Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Head Writer: Stephen A. Melcher, Jr.; Writers: Kyle Beakley, Tom Cohen, Patricia A. Cotter, Ryan Hopak, Gary Lucy, James Rowley, Ann Slichter, Dylan Snowden; Disney/ABC Syndication

Green Book actor Mike Hatton attends WGA with nominee Nick Vallelonga , Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly .

Daytime Drama Winner is General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Christopher Van Etten; Writers: Barbara Bloom, Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O'Connor, Donny Sheldon, Scott Sickles; ABC

Children Episodic Specials the winner: The Ersatz Elevator: Part One” (A Series of Unfortunate Events), Teleplay by Daniel Handler; Netflix

Documentary Script -Current Events “Trump’s Takeover” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

Documentary Script Other than Current Events category the winner is The Eugenics Crusade (American Experience), Written by Michelle Ferrari; PBS -

Green Book , WGA nominee Nick Vallelonga , Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly .

News Script regularly scheduled bulletin or breaking report; the winner is Catastrophe”(60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Katie Kerbstat, Nicole Young; CBS News News Script Analysis feature or commentary, the winner is Wounds of War (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Katie Kerbstat, Nicole Young; CBS News

Digital News Category the winner is Inside The Culture Of Sexism At Riot Games, Written by Cecilia D'Anastasio; Kotaku.com

Radio /Audio RFK: 50 Years After Shots Rang Out at The Ambassador Hotel,” Written by Andrew Evans; ABC News Radio

Radio /Audio Documentary Remembering The Good, The Bad and the Brilliant,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio

Radio /Audio New Script Analysis, Feature or Commentary John McCain: A Life of Service,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio

Tribute to Star Trek for the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys, winner writer Sean Brogan; CBS
Video Game writing winner God of War, Written by Matt Sophos, Richard Zangrande Gaubert, Cory Barlog; Story and Narrative Design Lead Matt Sophos; Story and Narrative Design Richard Zangrande Gaubert; Narrative Design Orion Walker, Adam Dolin; Sony Interactive Entertainment ;

The soiree ended with the winning adapted screenplay announcement, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty won based on the book by Lee Israel, “Can you ever forgive me “the crowd collected their gift bags filled with writing materials a book by a New York Times Best selling author Karin Slaughter, magazines ; Written By, The Hollywood Reporter , and a can of Runa energy drink for the late night writers . Congratulations to all the nominees and WGA winners 2019 !!.