When Hollywood turns a book into a film, the author of the original book doesn't always receive the proper attention. The Scripter Award changes all that. Founded in 1988 by the University of Southern California Libraries, The Scripter Award was established to "[bring] together the worlds of publishing, filmmaking and academe to celebrate the written word." This Character Approved annual award is presented for the best screenplay adapted from a literary work.

The 2011 Scripter Award was recently bestowed upon Ben Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin is the screenwriter of The Social Network and Mezrich is author of The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, the book upon which the film was based. Many are hoping that this award for The Social Network is the precursor to the award for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars on February 27th. Sorkin is also considered the frontrunner to win Best Adapted Screenplay.

Suspense author Dennis Lehane was another winner this year, taking home the fourth annual USC Libraries Scripter Literary Achievement Award for his body of work. Lehane has had several of his novels adapted by Hollywood, including Gone, Baby, Gone, Shutter Island, and Mystic River, for which he received the 2004 Scripter. Congratulations to these authors, and to the Scripter Awards for recognizing their achievements.

[Image: USC Libraries/Scripter]