Actors, Studios Halt Contract Talks

Representatives of actors and studios broke off negotiations late Sunday on a new labor contract, with no new talks scheduled.

Although the contract between the two does not expire until summer, a stalemate in talks now could slow production because producers may hesitate to launch new filming if they believe actors may strike.

The two sides have been bargaining over such issues as bolstering health benefits and whether studios should share a bigger piece of their DVD revenues.

Actors are represented by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, with studios and networks represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

-- James Bates