Striking US Screenwriters Resume Contract Talks

LOS ANGELES - Striking Hollywood writers resumed talks with the television and film industry Tuesday, one month after walking off the job over payments for new media use of their work, an official told AFP.

Asked if talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America would restart Tuesday, AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand said: “Yes, resuming at an undisclosed location at 10 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)” or 1800 GMT.

Talks broke up last Thursday after four days of negotiations, when the writers rejected a new contract offer from producers, describing it as a “massive rollback.”

The strike, launched Nov. 5, has forced the shutdown of numerous popular television shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “24,” forcing networks to broadcast reruns in their place.

Film productions also have been set back, with a new Tom Hanks film, “Angels and Demons” and an upcoming Oliver Stone war movie “Pinkville,” both shelved because of the strike.

Writers walked off the job after the producers association rejected their demands for a greater share of profits from Internet and new media sales.

It is the first strike by the writers’ union in Hollywood in nearly 20 years, and has seen picket lines in front of various studios around Los Angeles.