Talks between Hollywood writers and producers have reached a cliffhanger, with the next few days determining whether there will be a strike or a happy ending.
A strike could happen as early as Friday, with writers meeting Thursday night to discuss whether to walk out or continue to work without a contract while seeking a deal.
Their contract expired at midnight Wednesday after talks ended abruptly, with both sides saying they were still far apart on the key issue of raising payment from the sale of DVDs and extending payment to the distribution of TV shows and film over the Internet.
While both sides have withdrawn other proposals since talks began in July, neither has budged on what the Writers Guild of America termed "the hated DVD formula," which pays writers pennies on the sale of home video.
Writers want the formula extended to the sale of digital downloads. They are also seeking a slice of advertising dollars generated when TV shows and films are streamed for free over the Internet.
Adding to this they want to be paid for creating original content for the Internet, cell phones or other digital devices.
Producers maintain that profits from DVDs largely offset the increased cost of production.
They don't want to commit themselves to higher royalties for digital distribution at a time when business models are still uncertain.
"The magnitude of this proposal alone is blocking us from making any further progress," J. Nicholas Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said on Wednesday.
"We cannot move further as long as that issue remains on the table. In short, the DVD issue is a complete roadblock to any further progress."
The issue is key to the industry because actors also are expected to fight for a larger share of DVD and digital revenue when their contracts expire in June.
While the WGA has authority to call a strike, it is expected to give negotiations one last try.
Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer at the Los Angeles law firm of TroyGould, said it was in the union's interest to delay a walkout.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
