One of America's two major acting unions has reached a tentative agreement with the studios, quelling fears that Hollywood productions could be halted due by a strike.
According to Reuters, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the studios agreed on how to handle contracts for internet-only shows and 'residual' payments for the online display of TV clips.
However, the Screen Actors Guild, the larger of the two unions with 120,000 members to AFTRA's 40,000, many of whom are also in SAG, has yet to find common ground with the studios - three weeks of talks ended in stalemate earlier this month - and is seen as more militant and likely to strike.
The 100-day writers strike that ended in February caused a host of TV shows and films to cease productions and unease over the current dispute have led to 'de facto' strike conditions in certain parts of the industry, with episodes being stockpiled and productions not being green-lighted.
Talks between SAG and the studios will resume soon, with the SAG are believed to be seeking larger 'residual' payments for actors from DVD sales as well as making new arrangements to cover internet issues.
