Even while trying to reach a consensus, the Writers Guild of America continues to strike out on its own.
Over the past two days, the WGA has added to its arsenal of like-minded production companies, announcing interim deals with Lionsgate, Marvel Studios and RKO Pictures, meaning the purveyors of Weeds and Mad Men, Iron Man and, back in the day, Citizen Kane and It's a Wonderful Life, are apparently on board with the writers' demand for a bigger slice of the new-media pie.
"The negotiation with the guild was smooth and businesslike," said RKO CEO Ted Hartley. "They kept their agreement, and we kept ours. It all moved ahead at a steady pace and resulted in good feelings on both sides.
"This now releases the pent-up energies of the talented executives, producers and writers at RKO. We are all eager to get back to creating great films and innovative programming today."
"Smooth and businesslike" isn't how most would describe the increasingly contentious dealings between the WGA, which went on strike Nov. 5, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major studios and networks.
The new three-year contract negotiated last week by the Directors Guild of America was the first glimmer of conciliatory light Hollywood has seen since talks between the AMPTP and the WGA broke down Dec. 7.
The relative ease with which the DGA arrived at an agreement inspired both sides to return to the table for "informal talks" this week, during which they'll decide whether it's worth it to return to full-fledged negotiation mode.
In the meantime, the WGA has remained busy rallying independent production outfits to its cause. In addition to the latest crop of companies to meet the union's standards, similar deals have been struck with United Artists, the Weinstein Co., Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films and Worldwide Pants.
The AMPTP has continued to characterize these temporary arrangements as "one-off," meaning whatever terms the WGA and alliance arrive at one day will ultimately supersede these individual deals.
But now, it's on with the scribe-sanctioned show for RKO, Marvel and Lionsgate.
RKO is planning to announce its production schedule next week, a roster that's expected to include a number of remakes from the iconic studio's 1,300-film library.
Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Comics, will get off the ground with the release of the Paramount-distributed Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the comic-book hero, on May 2. Another installment of The Incredible Hulk, this time with Edward Norton as the green machine, is on tap for June 13.
Work can now resume on projects such as The Avengers, Captain America, Thor and Ant-Man, Marvel chairman David Maisel said.
"Marvel is committed to fairly compensating their writers, and now they can move forward with their planned production schedule," added WGA West president Patric Verrone.
Lionsgate was a particular biggie, as it was the first interim deal made with an indie studio that also produces scripted prime-time television. The company behind the Saw franchise and the Oscar-winning Crash could end up being the only one able to move ahead in the near future with upcoming pilots and script revisions.
The studio is reportedly hoping to get new seasons of Mad Men, which just picked up a Golden Globe for Best Drama Series, and Weeds off the ground as soon as possible.
"Lionsgate is considered a leader in the Industry, and its signing an interim agreement again confirms it is possible both for writers to be compensated fairly and respectfully for their work and for companies to operate profitably," Verrone said.
Another bright note: Celeb hounds will finally get the red carpet they deserve Sunday as the WGA-approved 14th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards takes place at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium.
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