The screenplays for “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Nickel Boys,” “Sing Sing” and “The Wild Robot,” and the original works on which they were based, have been chosen as finalists for the USC Libraries Scripter Awards, the USC Libraries announced on Wednesday.
The Scripters have been given out since 1988 and are awarded to the writers of adapted screenplays and the authors of the works that were adapted. The unusual decision to reward original authors means that “A Complete Unknown” writers James Mangold and Jay Cocks share their nomination with Elijah Wald, who wrote the book “Dylan Goes Electric!”; “Conclave” screenwriter Peter Straughan is joined as a nominee by novelist Robert Harris; “Nickel Boys” writers RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes are nominated alongside author Colson Whitehead; “Sing Sing” writers Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield are nominated with Esquire magazine journalist John H.