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Strike: Hopes for new contract
30/01/2008 09:24 - (SA)
Los Angeles - Hollywood's striking
writers and major studios have narrowed their differences after
a week of informal talks, raising hopes that a new contract is
within reach, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.
Representatives of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and
the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)
began meeting last Wednesday for informal discussions in their
first face-to-face talks since contract negotiations collapsed
on December 7.
The current talks are aimed at laying the groundwork for
official bargaining to resume, and both parties have agreed to
a media blackout while the negotiations are ongoing.
Some 10 500 WGA writers went on strike in November.
Since
then, television production of scripted comedies and dramas has
ground to a near-halt, films have been delayed and Hollywood's
awards season has been severely curtailed.
'Narrowed the gap'
In the past week, writers and producers have narrowed the
gap between them in key areas including how much writers should
earn when films and television shows are distributed over the
internet, the Times reported, citing unnamed sources.
The sources cautioned that the talks could still break
down, as they did in early December.
They said the parties
remain split over how much writers should be paid when their
shows are streamed online, and over whether unions should have
jurisdiction over original content created for the internet.
Officials for the WGA and AMPTP declined comment.
Industry sources told Reuters the article was highly
speculative, but one added, "they're still talking and I guess
you can say that's a good sign."
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South Africa
