Writers, AMPTP Meet for First of Three Scheduled Meetings

Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America and AMPTP resumed talks for the first time in three weeks at an undisclosed location on Oct. 26. The meeting was the first of three scheduled by the two sides.

Both the WGA and AMPTP agreed to a news blackout.

"We won't be issuing any statement," WGA spokesman Gregg Mitchell said.

Industry blogger Nikke Finke reported at www.dailydeadlinehollywood.com that negotiators came out of Monday's meeting with renewed optimism.

"In fact," Finke wrote, "the AMPTP reps for the studios and networks showed up to the first day's negotiating session since the WGA strike began November 5th with what was described to me as 'a very comprehensive proposal which laid out to all the entire roadmap to the deal. Over the course of the session, the producers addressed every single issue, and the writers listened and kept getting up to caucus.'"

Picketing resumed Monday after a five-day break at most major lots in Hollywood. Citing the decline in production, WGA West prexy Patric Verrone has announced that the weekly picketing requirement for members has been cut from 20 hours to 12.

In New York, the guild is staging a major rally today with presidential candidate John Edwards, who walked a WGA picket line outside NBC in Burbank on Nov. 16.

The WGA announced that Edwards will be attending its Solidarity Rally at noon in Washington Square Park. Theme of the event is "We're all in this together, and we demand a fair deal!"

Industry blogger Nikki Finke reported at www.dailydeadlinehollywood.com that negotiators came out of Monday's meeting with renewed optimism.