Agents Playing Role Contract Talks

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As Hollywood braces for a possible strike next month, talent agents are trying to do what they know best: Match-make, the Los Angeles Times reports.


Several high-profile agents are quietly trying to broker a deal between studio executives and writers, who have been locked in rancorous contract talks that are set to resume Tuesday. The writers’ contract expires Oct. 31 and major studios are preparing for a walkout.


“We’ve reached out to them,” said one top agent, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the back-channel communications. “They should see us as a parallel resource.”


Karen Stuart, executive director of the Assn. of Talent Agents, a Los Angeles-based trade group that represents more than 100 talent agencies, said her organization was seeking to play a constructive role to help avert a strike while also preparing clients for that very prospect.


“Obviously we’re trying to do anything we can to facilitate a deal,” said Stuart, whose group hosted a meeting last month with leaders of the Writers Guild of America, West to discuss the state of contract negotiations and clarify strike rules, which the guild publicized last week in an apparent signal of its intent to strike if agreement on a new contract couldn’t be reached.


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