Site includes a summary of issues and press releases on negotiations.
With Hollywood on the edge of its seat, the Writers Guild of America and major studios kept urgent negotiations going Thursday, seeking to avert a crippling strike as a second day passed since their old contract expired. But some signs during the past few days fueled optimism that a settlement was near, including the participation of several senior studio bosses and the intensity of the talks themselves. Under federal labor law, the old pact stays in force while negotiations continue. Waiting in the wings to begin their own labor talks with producers are the unions representing 135,000 actors whose contract is due to expire July 1. Because of overlapping economic issues, a settlement with writers is seen as lessening the chances of a walkout by the actors two months from now.