This morning Syracuse University ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts alumnus Aaron Sorkin was nominated for Best Screenplay for “Steve Jobs” at the Golden Globes.

Here are four takeaways from this morning’s announcement:

1. Sorkin Deserved It

If you have seen “Steve Jobs,” you will know that this is a film that lived or died by its screenplay. Sorkin did an absolutely masterful job taking Jobs’ life and experiences and condensing them into one very heavy and intriguing film. He did not try to cover all aspects of Jobs’ life; rather, he focused on individual events that acted as microcosms for Jobs’ personality and spirit. The film’s frenetic dialogue speaks to the power of the spoken word, and Sorkin deserves recognition for his achievements with this screenplay.

2. Here Come the Oscars

While a Golden Globe nomination is a big deal, it is not the end-all and be-all award show; ultimately, this nomination will give him better footing in the Oscar race for Best Original Screenplay. His nomination is one that the campaigners can tout, especially since voters will seek out and pay more attention to the film after seeing his name up for a Golden Globe.

3. Good for DVD’s and VOD

Though I personally loved “Steve Jobs,” its box office performance was ultimately very disappointing. For whatever reason, the theatrical run of this film just failed to connect with ticket buyers and is not ending on the highest note. With that said, the film still has plenty of life left in it for when it hits homes across the United States. This is a film that would work just fine in a living room, watched on DVD or video on demand. The Golden Globe nomination, which can lead to other honors, brings good press to the movie and ensures audiences they are watching a high quality film.

4. What’s next for Sorkin?

Ever since Sorkin took home the Oscar for “The Social Network,” he has been on a hot streak, setting himself up as one of Hollywood’s elite screenwriters. His movies have gone on to major success, and his television show “The Newsroom” won several accolades and generated a healthy fan base. The success of “Steve Jobs” shows that Sorkin has plenty up his sleeve, and makes me wonder what is next. Will he continue adapting true stories for the screen, or will he do an original story? Whatever the answer, I personally cannot wait to find out. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we hear about Aaron Sorkin receiving a nomination.

Erik Benjamin is a sophomore television, radio and film major. You can email him at ebenjami@syr.edu or follow him @embenjamin14 on Twitter.

Published on December 10, 2015 at 1:13 pm