‘Argo’ wins USC Libraries Scripter Award for writing

“Argo” continues to rack up prizes: On Saturday evening, Ben Affleck’s drama set during the Iranian hostage crisis picked up the 25th annual Scripter Award, which honors the best adapted screenplay, as well as the author of the material on which it was based. The prize is presented by the USC Libraries.

Screenwriter Chris Terrio shared the award with Antonio J. Mendez, who wrote the autobiographical “The Master of Disguise,” and Joshuah Bearman, who penned the Wired magazine article “The Great Escape.”

“Argo,” which revolves around a CIA plan to get Americans out of Tehran during the Iranian Revolution, was in competition with “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “Silver Linings Playbook.” Because of a tie, there were six nominees this year instead of the usual five.

Terrio’s “Argo” script is also nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award and the Academy Award.

The past two Scripter winners -- “The Social Network” and “The Descendants” -- went on to win the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay.

Larry McMurty and Diana Ossana, Oscar winners for adapted screenplay for 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain,” received the Scripter Literary Achievement Award at the ceremony at the university’s Doheny Library.

“Argo” is nominated for seven Academy Awards. It won Golden Globes for best dramatic film and director for Affleck, the Screen Actors Guild Award for ensemble, the Producers Guild of America Award and the best director prize from the Directors Guild of America.

ALSO:

‘Argo’ writer Chris Terrio on Affleck collaboration

‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Flight’ nominated for WGA awards

‘Lincoln’ writer Tony Kushner on working with Steven Spielberg

MORE COVERAGE

PHOTOS: Memorable red carpet moments

VIDEO: Go behind the scenes with the awards contenders

THE ENVELOPE: Awards insider