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Writers Guild Of America Awards 2002
The 55th Writers Guild of America Awards, given in 2003, honored the film and television best writers of 2002. Film Best Original Screenplay ''Bowling for Columbine'' - Michael Moore *''Antwone Fisher'' - Antwone Fisher *'' Far from Heaven'' - Todd Haynes *''Gangs of New York'' - Jay Cocks, Kenneth Lonergan and Steven Zaillian *''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' - Nia Vardalos Best Adapted Screenplay '' The Hours'' - David Hare *'' About a Boy'' - Peter Hedges, Chris and Paul Weitz *''About Schmidt'' - Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor *''Adaptation.'' - Charlie and Donald Kaufman *''Chicago'' - Bill Condon Television Best Episodic Comedy ''Frasier'' - Bob Daily, Lori Kirkland and Dan O'Shannon for "Rooms With a View" *''The Bernie Mac Show'' - Larry Wilmore for "Pilot" *'' Ed'' - Jon Beckerman and Rob Burnett for "The Wedding" *'' Scrubs'' - Bill Lawrence for "My First Day (Pilot)" *''Sex and the City'' - Cindy Chupack for "Plus One Is the Loneliest Number" *''Sex and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Writers Guild Of America, East
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, radio, news, and online media. The Writers Guild of America, East is affiliated with the Writers Guild of America West. Together the guilds administer the Writers Guild of America Awards. It is an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists, the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds, and the AFL–CIO. History WGAE had its beginnings in 1912, when the Authors' League of America (ALA) was formed by some 350 book and magazine authors, as well as dramatists. In 1921, this group split into two branches of the League: the Dramatists Guild of America for writers of stage and, later, radio drama and the Authors Guild (AG) for novelists and nonfiction book and magazine authors. That same year, the Screen Writers Guild came into existence in Hollywood, California, but was "little more than a social organization", according to the WGAe's website, until the Great Depre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nia Vardalos
Antonia Eugenia Vardalos (born September 24, 1962) is a Canadian actress, director, producer and screenwriter. She is best known for starring in and writing the romantic comedy film ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' (2002), which garnered her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Early life Vardalos was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on September 24, 1962. She is the daughter of Greek Canadian parents Doreen Christakos, a bookkeeper and homemaker, and Constantine "Gus" Vardalos, a land developer who was born in Kalavryta, Greece. She attended St. George School and Shaftesbury High School in Winnipeg and Ryerson University in Toronto. Career An alumna of the Chicago-based Second City comedy repertory company, Vardalos wrote and performed in over ten revues of sketch comedy and won Chicago's Joseph Jefferson award for Best Actress. Vardalos had many small roles in television shows ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Condon
William Condon (born October 22, 1955) is an American director and screenwriter. Condon is known for writing and/or directing numerous successful and acclaimed films including '' Gods and Monsters'', ''Chicago'', '' Kinsey'', ''Dreamgirls'', '' The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1'', '' The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2'', and ''Beauty and the Beast''. He has received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, ''Gods and Monsters'' and ''Chicago'', winning for the former. Early life Condon was born in New York City on October 22, 1955, the son of a police detective, and was raised in an Irish Catholic family. He attended Regis High School and Columbia College of Columbia University, graduating in 1976 with a degree in philosophy. Two films had a significant impact of Condon's early life. At the age of twelve, he found himself drawn to screenplay writing with his first viewing of ''Bonnie and Clyde''. In college he saw '' Sweet Char ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chicago (2002 Film)
''Chicago'' is a 2002 American musical black comedy crime film based on the 1975 stage musical of the same name which in turn originated in the 1926 play of the same name. It explores the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere. ''Chicago'' centers on Roxie Hart (Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones), two murderers who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago. Roxie, a housewife, and Velma, a vaudevillian, fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows. The film marks the directorial debut of Rob Marshall, who also choreographed the film, and was adapted by screenwriter Bill Condon, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. ''Chicago'' was critically acclaimed, with particular praise given to the performances of the cast. The film went on to win six Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture, making ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charlie Kaufman
Charles Stuart Kaufman (; born November 19, 1958) is an American filmmaker and novelist. He wrote the films ''Being John Malkovich'' (1999), ''Adaptation'' (2002), and ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (2004). He made his directorial debut with ''Synecdoche, New York'' (2008), which film critic Roger Ebert called "the best movie of the decade" in 2009.Ebert, Roger. (December 13, 2009The best films of the decade – Roger Ebert's Journal. Blogs.suntimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-19. Further directorial work includes the stop motion animated film ''Anomalisa'' (2015) and ''I'm Thinking of Ending Things'' (2020). In 2020, Kaufman made his literary debut with the release of his first novel, ''Antkind''. One of the most celebrated screenwriters of his era, Kaufman has been nominated for four Academy Awards: twice for Best Original Screenplay for ''Being John Malkovich'' and ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (winning for the latter), once for Best Adapted Screenplay ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adaptation (film)
''Adaptation'' is a 2002 American meta comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. It features an ensemble cast including Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper, with Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in supporting roles. Kaufman based ''Adaptation'' on his struggles to adapt Susan Orlean's 1998 nonfiction book ''The Orchid Thief'' while suffering from writer's block. It involves elements adapted from the book, plus fictitious elements, including Kaufman's twin brother (also credited as a writer for the film) and a romance between Orlean and Laroche. It culminates in completely invented elements, including versions of Orlean and Laroche three years after the events of ''The Orchid Thief''. ''Adaptation'' was praised for its direction, screenplay, humor, and the performances of Cage, Cooper, and Streep. It received awards at the 75th Academy Awards, 60th Golden Globe Awards, and 56th British Ac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jim Taylor (writer)
Jim Taylor (born 1962) is an American producer and screenwriter who has often collaborated on projects with Alexander Payne. The two are business partners in the Santa Monica based Ad Hominem Enterprises, and are credited as co-writers of six films released between 1996 and 2007: ''Citizen Ruth'' (1996), ''Election'' (1999), ''Jurassic Park III'' (2001, with Peter Buchman), ''About Schmidt'' (2002), ''Sideways'' (2004), and ''I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry'' (2007, with Barry Fanaro and Lew Gallo). Taylor's credits as a producer include films such as ''Cedar Rapids'' and ''The Descendants''. Early years Taylor was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Bellevue High School in neighboring Bellevue, and subsequently from Pomona College, a liberal arts school in California that he attended instead of accepting an offer from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Career Taylor began working for Cannon Films in 1987. After visiting China on an Avery Foundation grant, Tay ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alexander Payne
Constantine Alexander Payne (; born February 10, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for the films ''Citizen Ruth'' (1996), ''Election'' (1999), ''About Schmidt'' (2002), ''Sideways'' (2004), ''The Descendants'' (2011), ''Nebraska'' (2013) and '' Downsizing'' (2017). He is noted for his dark humor and satirical depictions of contemporary American society. Payne is a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and a three-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director. In 2017, Metacritic ranked Payne 2nd on its list of the 25 best film directors of the 21st century. Early life Payne was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Peggy and George Payne, restaurant owners. He is the youngest of three sons and grew up in the Dundee neighborhood. He is of Greek ancestry. Payne's paternal grandfather, Nicholas "Nick" Payne, anglicized the last name from "Papadopoulos". His family comes from three areas in Greece: the island of Sy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
About Schmidt
''About Schmidt'' is a 2002 American comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Alexander Payne and starring Jack Nicholson in the title role. The film also stars Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, and Kathy Bates. It is loosely based on the 1996 novel of the same title by Louis Begley. ''About Schmidt'' was theatrically released on December 13, 2002, by New Line Cinema. The film was both a commercial and critical success, earning $105.8 million on a $30 million budget. Plot Warren Schmidt is retiring from his position as an actuary with Woodmen of the World, a life insurance company in Omaha, Nebraska. After a retirement dinner, Schmidt finds it hard to adjust to his new life, feeling useless. Warren sees a television advertisement about a foster program for African children, Plan USA, and decides to sponsor a child. He soon receives an information package with a photo of his foster child, a small Tanzanian boy named Ndugu Umbo, to whom he relates his life in a series of candid, ram ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Weitz (filmmaker)
Paul John Weitz (born November 19, 1965) is an American filmmaker, playwright, and actor. He is the older brother of filmmaker Chris Weitz. Together they worked on the comedy films ''American Pie (film), American Pie'' and ''About a Boy (film), About a Boy''; for the latter, they were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Weitz is also a writer, executive producer, and director of the Amazon Prime Video web series ''Mozart in the Jungle''. Early life Weitz was born in New York City, the son of actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/menswear designer John Weitz. His brother is filmmaker Chris Weitz. Weitz is the grandson of Czech people, Czech-born agent and producer Paul Kohner and actress Lupita Tovar on his maternal side. Tovar, who was from Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico, starred in ''Santa (1932 film), Santa'', Mexico's first talkie, in 1932, as well as a Mexican version of ''Dracula (1931 Spanish-language film), Drácula''. Weitz' paternal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Weitz
Christopher John Weitz (born November 30, 1969) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work with his brother Paul on the comedy films '' American Pie'' and '' About a Boy''; the latter earned the Weitz brothers a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Among his other main works, Weitz directed the film adaptation of the novel ''The Golden Compass'' and the film adaptation of ''New Moon'' from the series of ''Twilight'' books, wrote the screenplay for Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation of ''Cinderella'', and co-wrote '' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' with Tony Gilroy. Early life Weitz was born in New York City, the son of actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/menswear designer John Weitz. His brother is filmmaker Paul Weitz. Weitz is the grandson of Czech-born agent and producer Paul Kohner and actress Lupita Tovar on his maternal side. Tovar, who was from Oaxaca, Mexico, starred in ''Santa'', Mexico' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Hedges
Peter Simpson Hedges (born July 6, 1962) is an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, film director and film producer. Early life Hedges was born in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was raised, the son of Carole (Simpson), a psychotherapist, and the Rev. Robert Boyden Hedges, an Episcopal priest. His mother left when he was young so he was raised by his single father. He attended Valley High School, where he was involved in the theater department, including the improvisational group and the mime troupe, The Bakers Dozen. He later went to the North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied drama. Career Hedges' novel ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie of the same title, for which he wrote the screenplay, launching his film career. In 2002, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for '' About a Boy''. In the same year, he wrote and directed ''Pieces of April'', starring Katie Holmes, which he ded ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
