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)