WGA MEMBERS TO MEET ON SATURDAY

WGA MEMBERS TO MEET ON SATURDAY

Members of the striking Writers' Guild of America (WGA) have been called to meetings on Saturday as rumours grow of an end to their industrial action.

It was reported earlier this week that the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) had reached a tentative agreement regarding their dispute over royalty payments for the redistribution of writers' work.

And John Bowman, chair of the WGA negotiating committee, has confirmed that "informational meetings" will be held this weekend to inform members of current developments in talks between the writers' union and film and television studios.

"Neither the negotiating committee, nor the West board or the East council will take action on the contract until after the membership meeting," he explained.

But Bowman added: "While we have made important progress since the companies re-engaged us in serious talks, negotiations continue. Regardless of what you hear or read, there are many significant points that have yet to be worked out."

The WGA announcement came as Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, pleaded for the WGA to agree to suspend picket lines for the 80th annual Academy awards.

He told Variety that organisers of the ceremony needed to be informed of the WGA's plans "as a matter of logistics".

"We're running out of time," he added. "We have nominees and potential presenters who live all over the globe. I'm nervous. We're getting down to the final moments, we need to make plans."

Ganis said he was "feeling great" that negotiations seemed to be progressing well.