Two Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program alumni won 2011 Writers Guild Awards on February 5: Amy Talkington ('99SOA) in the Children's Script - Long Form or Special category, for her teleplay Avalon High, which aired on the Disney Channel, and was co-written with Julie Sherman Wolfe and based on the novel by Meg Cabot; and Jon Haller ('09SOA) in the Outstanding Achievement in Writing - Derivative New Media category, for "Strip Pong," "Tear Jerks," and "Brainstorm" (Frank vs. Lutz), web episodes for 30 Rock New Media, NBC.
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the award winners at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. The awards are given for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing.
Two additional alumni were nominated for awards, Lisa Cholodenko ('97SOA) for The Kids Are All Right, and Nicole Holofcener ('88SOA) for Please Give, both for the top screen award, Original Screenplay. Cholodenko and her film are nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
