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.
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."
Writers, studios closer to formal talks: report
Grammys Get It Write
It's official. The Grammys will go on, witty banter and all.
A week after striking writers said they wouldn't picket the music shindig, the other shoe has dropped. In a brief statement, the Writers Guild of America announced Monday that it has inked an interim deal with the Recording Academy allowing scribes to work on the nonsinging parts of the show.
"Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new media," said Writers Guild of America West President Patric M. Verrone.
"In the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract, the WGAW Board felt that this decision should be made on behalf our brothers and sisters in the American Federation of Musicians and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists."
The lovefest was mutual.
"The Recording Academy is gratified by the WGA's decision to grant the interim agreement we requested for our milestone 50th Annual Grammy Awards," cheered Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy. "Having our talented writers on the team further ensures the highest level of creativity and innovation, something our audience has come to expect every year."
Writers will now be able to fill telepromters with finely crafted introductions to presenters and performers, putting a worried nation at ease.
Before the writers played nice, there were fears the Grammys could go the way of the Golden Globes and People's Choice ceremonies.
The WGA and their allies in the Screen Actors Guild were even said to be pressuring Grammy invitees who moonlight as actors, including Beyoncé Knowles, Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah, to stay home.
Kanye West leads all Grammy nominees, with eight nods. Amy Winehouse is the other top nominee, with six.
The Feb. 10 show at Los Angeles' Staples Center will feature performances from Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Carrie Underwood, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and, if she manages to make it through some real rehab and clear up her visa issues, Winehouse.
With the Grammys getting the go-ahead, all eyes turn to the Oscars. For now, Academy Award organizers insist the show won't be stopped, but the WGA has signaled no intention of granting a waiver, and SAG has said actors won't be crossing any picket lines, putting Hollywood's biggest night in serious doubt.
