Striking screenwriters, studios to begin informal talks

An end could be in sight for the U.S. screenwriters strike, after the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers released a joint statement announcing the start of informal discussions on Wednesday.

Negotiations between the two sides broke down Dec. 7 after the AMPTP called for about six issues be dropped and the guild balked.

With the Directors Guild of America having secured a tentative deal with the studios after less than a week of bargaining as well as mounting pressure against a disruption of the Academy Awards gala — nominations for which were announced Tuesday — both sides decided to meet informally on Wednesday, with the goal being a return to official negotiations.

In a letter to members, the guild's east and west coast presidents — Michael Winship and Patric Verrone — revealed that they have dropped two of the six issues identified by the studios in December: namely proposals concerning reality TV and animation show staffers.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract," Winship and Verrone said in the letter.

Both sides have agreed to a news blackout during the latest round of discussions.

The strike, which began Nov. 5, has cast a shadow over scripted television and some film productions across the U.S., concentrated mostly in the Los Angeles and New York areas.

U.S. productions filming in Canada have also been affected, as has the annual film awards season, with some shows changing format and the Golden Globes reduced to a news conference.

The most divisive issue has been compensation for work distributed on new media platforms, including cellphones and over the internet.