Hollywood Hopes To Avoid Strike

In what many industry insiders are calling an unexpected U-turn, the Writers Guild of America has agreed to meet with the studios and TV networks in early talks over contracts. News of the decision has given hope to moviemakers that they might be able to avoid a financially devastating strike. Fears of a strike - which would stymie movie production in America - first arose when the WGA refused to enter into early talks until the industry had made significant concessions towards their demands. The annual contracts for the previous few years had all been agreed at early talks. The main issues in contention are over residual payments and internet jurisdiction. The guild are also hoping to make it compulsory for studios to employ writers for the entire period a movie is made.