“Slumdog Millionaire,” the rags-to-riches story produced on a mini-budget, has scored another huge victory among the top Hollywood awards. Last night, Simon Beaufoy won the best adapted screenplay honor for “Slumdog Millionaire” at the 2009 Writers Guild Awards. The film is based on the novel, “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup. The 2009 Writers Guild Awards were handed out simultaneously at ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
“Slumdog Millionaire” focuses on an orphan from the slums who gets a shot at winning it all on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” “Slumdog” cost only about $15 million to make. Since its release in the U.S. 13 weeks ago, the movie has raked in $77 million. After winning a ton of major awards, it will be a surprise if “Slumdog” doesn’t take home the big prize of best picture at the Oscars later this month.
“Milk,” written by Dustin Lance Black, is a film about San Francisco gay activist Harvey Milk; and it won the best original screenplay trophy at last night’s WGA Awards.
The WGA Awards honor outstanding achievements in writing for the screen, television, radio, news, promotion, and video games. A complete list of the winners is on the WGA West website.
