Contract talks are expected to kick off between Hollywood directors and studios, although labor negotiations remain stalled in the film and television writers' strike, which has been spelling troubles for the entertainment industry in last two months.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents movie studios and television networks, said Friday in a joint statement that the two organizations will begin their talks Saturday. The DGA's contract expires June 30.

Talks had initially been delayed while the AMPTP negotiated with the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike since November. The WGA talks, however, broke off early last month and no new discussions have been scheduled.

Meanwhile, the WGA announced Friday that it would not picket outside the Beverly Hilton hotel on Sunday, when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association holds a news conference to announce winners of the annual Golden Globe Awards.

The 65th Golden Globes Awards ceremony was canceled when nominees and presenter said they would not cross WGA picket lines to attend the event.

The HFPA announced Friday it was assuming full control of Sunday's news conference -- which was originally being handled primarily by NBC. That change, which will give all broadcast and print media full access to cover the event, prompting the WGA to give the organizer assurances that there would not be any picketing at the event.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2008)