Guildy as charged

THE US screenwriters' strike continued as we went to press. Their union, the Writers' Guild, has opened "informal discussions" with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers "to determine whether there is a basis for both parties to return to formal negotiations". Issues include payments to writers for distribution of their work over the internet and mobile phones, and plans to remove writers' credits from film advertising. The strike has already resulted in the cancellation of chat shows - due to lack of ad-libs - and of the Golden Globe award ceremony, and threatens the 24 February Oscar awards ceremony.

See www.wga.org and and unitedhollywood.blogspot.com for updates.