Writers Guild Names its 2012 Nominees

JAN 5, 2012 - The American Writers Guild Award nominations have been announced and Alexander Payne's Descendants, Kristin Wiig's Bridesmaids" and Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris are among the nominees.

Unlike most other film industry guilds, the Writers Guild of America does not allow non-guild members to receive nominations and screenplays must be produced under the guild's labour agreements in order to be eligible. Due to the guild's strict rules, the awards do not serve as a helpful predictor of Oscar nominations.

Last year, four of the 10 Oscar nominees for Best Original and Adapted Screenplay had not also been picked by the WGA. For 2009, six of the Oscar nominees were non-WGA.

Among the ineligible scripts this year are such critics' favorites as The Artist, Beginners, Drive, The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn,Shame, and many others. A total of 33 films qualified this year for the WGA's ballot for best adapted screenplay, and 55 for best original screenplay. The winners will be announced on Sunday, Feb 19.

The nominees:

Original Screenplay

50/50: Will Reiser

Bridesmaids: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo

Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen

Win Win: Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tiboni

Young Adult: Diablo Cody (pic, left)

Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011): Steven Zaillian
The Help: Tate Taylor
Hugo: John Logan
Moneyball: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin

Documentary Screenplay

Better This World (2011): Katie Galloway, Kelly Duane
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (2011): Matthew Hamachek, Marshall Curry
Nostalgia for the Light (2010): Patricio Guzmán
Pina (2011): Wim Wenders (pic, right)
Stand van de Sterren (2010): Leonard Retel Helmrich, Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich
Senna (2010): Manish Pandey

Dramatic Series

"Boardwalk Empire" (2010)
"Breaking Bad" (2008)
"Game of Thrones" (2011)
"The Good Wife" (2009)
"Homeland" (2011)

Comedy Series

"30 Rock" (2006)
"Modern Family" (2009)
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000)
"Louie" (2010)
"Parks and Recreation" (2009)

New Series

"Episodes" (2011)
"Game of Thrones" (2011)
"Homeland" (2011)
"The Killing" (2011)
"New Girl" (2011)

Comedy/Variety Series

"The Colbert Report" (2005)
"Conan" (2010)
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (1996)
"Jon Benjamin Has a Van" (2011)
"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (2009)
"Real Time with Bill Maher" (2003)
"Saturday Night Live" (1975)

Episodic Drama

"Boardwalk Empire" (2010): Bathsheba Doran ("The Age of Reason")
"Boardwalk Empire" (2010): Itamar Moses ("A Dangerous Maid")
"Breaking Bad" (2008): Vince Gilligan ("Box Cutter")
"Breaking Bad" (2008): Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett ("End Times")
"Dexter" (2006): Jace Richdale ("Just Let Go")
"Homeland" (2011): Henry Bromell ("The Good Soldier")

Episodic Comedy

"30 Rock" (2006): Tracey Wigfield("Queen of Jordan")
"Modern Family" (2009): Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman("Caught in the Act")
"Modern Family" (2009): Dan O'Shannon, Ilana Wernick ("Mother's Day")
"The Office" (2005): Robert Padnick ("PDA")
"The Office" (2005): Greg Daniels ("Goodbye, Michael - Part 2")
"Weeds" (2005): Stephen Falk ("Object Impermanence")

Long Form - Original

Cinema Verite (2011): David Seltzer
Five (2011): Stephen Godchaux, Jill Gordon, Howard Morris, Deirdre O'Connor, Wendy West

Long Form - Adaptation

"Mildred Pierce" (2011): Todd Haynes, Jonathan Raymond
Too Big to Fail (2011): Peter Gould