The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is paying tribute to Nancy Meyers. The writer-director has been named as the 2020 recipient of the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, a lifetime achievement honor that’s presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.” The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news.
Meyers will receive the honor from frequent collaborator Diane Keaton at the 2020 WGA Awards ceremony, slated for February 1 in Beverly Hills.
“Nancy Meyers is the writer many of us aspire to be — her scripts walk the line of blending challenging ideas with comedic situations, dramatic themes with hard jokes. Her work consistently proves that movies about the foibles and frailties of humans will be commercially successful in the hands of a master of her craft. The WGAW Board of Directors is thrilled to give her this award,” said WGAW president David A. Goodman.
Meyers made her screenwriting and producing debut with 1980 Goldie Hawn-starrer “Private Benjamin.” She made her feature directorial debut with the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap” starring Lindsay Lohan and Natasha Richardson. Her other credits include “Something’s Gotta Give,” “It’s Complicated,” “The Holiday,” and “What Women Want.”
Most recently Meyers wrote and directed 2015’s “The Intern,” a workplace comedy led by Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.“There aren’t enough movies that show working women who are content at their job, good at their job, and good bosses,” she said of the pic, describing her frustration with movies that depict women as “horrible” bosses who are “hated” by their employees.
“My kind of movie is not the kind of film that studios have wanted to make for a while now,” Meyers, who is the highest-grossing female filmmaker in Hollywood box office history, said in 2015. “Instead, it’s been all comic-book movies, gigantic action movies, and guy comedies. As for why aren’t there more women [directors], there has been somewhat of a guilt-free environment and [studios] have been making a certain kind of film for a while, and, for whatever reason, they think a man would be better at directing dinosaurs, or flying people, or whatever. But I know there are plenty of super-game women who would want to make those films.”
Elaine May is among the previous recipients of the Laurel Award.
Check out a video of Meyers offering advice for aspiring writers below.
