Writers, Studios Continue Talks as They Near Critical Juncture

Writers and studios said Friday that they will continue to negotiate today as the two sides neared a critical point in their talks for a new contract.

As of late Friday night, no agreement appeared near in talks between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Talks were still at a delicate stage, said sources in both camps, none of whom would speak for attribution because of the sensitive state of negotiations.

Those sources said that some progress has been made, but that a big gap remains over key money and creative issues.

The negotiations began Jan. 22, with the guild saying that if no agreement was reached in two weeks, talks would be suspended until shortly before the current contract expires May 2. Failure to extend talks would be a major setback to efforts to head off a potential strike this summer, the sources said.

Suspension of the talks would also bode ill for talks between studios and actors, which have yet to be scheduled. Strikes by both unions would shut down film and television production, and the possibility is already causing producers to curb new projects that can’t be finished before a walkout could occur.

Writers and studios have agreed to a self-imposed news blackout, revealing in the last two weeks only what topics have been covered. So far, talks have covered all of the major issues.

Writers are pushing for significant increases in their pay formulas, especially residuals they are paid when their work airs on foreign TV channels, on cable TV, on the Internet, on the Fox network and when videocassettes and DVDs are sold.

In addition, they are seeking more “creative rights,” such as increased access to film sets, meetings and editing sessions, as well as curbs on the use of “A film by” credits routinely given by studios to directors. Studio executives and writers made little progress on those issues during two sessions Friday, said sources who were briefed on the meetings.

The Screen Actors Guild contract expires July 1, and an actors strike would shut production immediately.

SAG is expected to name a new negotiator soon. One leading candidate is Robert Hadl, a former lawyer for entertainment conglomerate MCA who has been advising the Writers Guild.