The Screen Actors Guild and the majors have launched their fourth week of feature-primetime talks with a deadline looming to wrap up negotiations by Tuesday afternoon.
The session -- the 17th since bargaining began April 15 -- began at mid-morning Monday at the headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers in Encino.
Both sides have continued to observe the unofficial news blackout since Friday's announcement that talks would be extended on a day-to-day basis through Tuesday.
The extension was triggered by SAG's move to drop its demand for a doubling of DVD residuals and seek a hike in pension and health contributions on DVD residuals. SAG also agreed Friday to drop several pay hike demands.
SAG's contract expires June 30 and the lack of resolution has caused headaches for the studios, which have stopped greenlighting features until SAG signs a deal.
If SAG does not make a deal this week, it runs the risk of the rival American Federation of Television & Radio Artists making a primetime deal and using that to expand its coverage. AFTRA's primetime negotiations have been pushed back twice with AFTRA talks now slated to begin Wednesday.
Reprinted from Variety, March 5
