Zapped: King’s Speech, Winter’s Bone Not Eligible for WGA

Steve Pond reports that several scripts are now not eligible for the WGA, according to their online balloting:

“The King’s Speech,” “Winter’s Bone,” “Toy Story 3,” “Blue Valentine” and “Another Year” may be among the most acclaimed film scripts of the year, and they may well become contenders in the writing categories at the Oscars, but you won’t hear any of their names called when the WGA Awards nominations are announced on January 4.

Also missing from the WGA ballot: “The Ghost Writer,” “Nowhere Boy,” “The Way Back,” “Never Let Me Go,” “Love & Other Drugs,” “Made in Dagenham,” “Green Zone,” “Biutiful” and “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.”

So there you have it. It happens that films that aren’t nominated for WGA’s win but it is extremely rare. I think the one I can recall off the top of my head was Talk To Her, which won the Oscar for original screenplay but was not nominated for a WGA. For a Best Picture contender like The King’s Speech, it happens but it’s rare. For example, the last time a film won Best Picture without a WGA was when Gladiator won in 2000. It did eventually get a screenplay nomination at the Oscars, which The King’s Speech is expected to do. On the plus side, at least they’re not qualified, which is different from being snubbed.

won WGA | won Oscar

2009

WINNERS CHART

+Won Best Picture

*nominated for Best Pic

WGA | OSCAR