Oliver Stone to be honoured by writers guild

Screenwriter-filmmaker Oliver Stone, whose credits include "Platoon", "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Wall Street", has been selected for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) Wests 2017 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement.

Stone will be honoured at an awards show on February 19 at The Beverly Hilton here, reports variety.com.

"Oliver Stone may be our most committed screenwriter, using an unparalleled sense of conflict and drama to define the past half century," WGA West President Howard A. Rodman said.

"Stone's Vietnam trilogy -- 'Platoon', 'Born on the Fourth of July' and 'Heaven & Earth' -- not only illuminated the war, but made us face its consequences.

"His unofficial and extraordinary history of the 1960s and 1970s -- from 'JFK' and 'The Doors' through 'Nixon' and 'Wall Street' -- wove a coherent narrative from incoherent facts," Rodman added.

Speaking about the honour, Stone said: "As a young screenwriter, I remember seeing so many I admired graced with the Laurel Award, and I never expected I'd be considered their peer. I am most honoured to accept this great award."

Stone served in the US Army Infantry in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He was wounded twice in combat and ultimately received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and other medals of honour during his military career.

Stone has received eight Academy award nominations -- writing nominations for "Platoon", "Salvador" and "Nixon"; Best Picture, directing and writing for "JFK"; and Best Picture and writing for "Born on the Fourth of July".

--IANS

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