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Writers, Studios May Start Informal Talks This Week

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2008

Striking Hollywood writers could begin informal talks with studio chiefs as early as this week in an effort to end a two-month walkout that has hobbled the entertainment industry, according to a person familiar with the bargaining strategy of the writers union.

Word of the possible break in the stalemate came Friday, a day after the Directors Guild of America announced a tentative deal, and studio heads urged the Writers Guild of America to join in talks that could lead to the resumption of formal negotiations that broke off Dec. 7.

The Writers Guild is prepared to sit down with executives such as Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Co., who participated in similar informal talks with directors, said the person who was not authorized to publicly comment and asked for anonymity.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios, said it had no comment on the possible start of informal talks.

Militants Ask Clooney To Visit Nigeria

Militants in Nigeria's restive oil region on Saturday invited actor and peace activist George Clooney to visit the area and asked for U.N. intervention in their conflict.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated Clooney as a U.N. "messenger of peace" Friday to promote the world body's activities, especially in its peacekeeping missions.

Nigeria's Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta congratulated Clooney on his appointment and invited him to visit their impoverished region, which has been wracked by two years of fighting, bombings and kidnapping of foreign workers.

"Mr. Clooney, MEND extends an invitation to you to see things for yourself and is willing to work with you and other credible peace makers of international repute to stop Nigeria from plunging into the abyss of war," the group said in a statement.

It said the unrest in the region was building up to a crisis that would dwarf Darfur's.

Today's Birthdays

Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin is 78. Comedian Bill Maher is 52. Actor Lorenzo Lamas is 50. TV personality Melissa Rivers is 40. Actor Skeet Ulrich is 38.

Source: The Associated Press

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