AMPTP: WGA trying to halt film productions

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said striking Hollywood writers are trying to derail more film productions to further their cause.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike against the AMPTP since Nov. 5.

Since then, nearly all scripted TV series have been shut down and several movie productions postponed.

"The WGA this morning engaged in a failed effort to stop the City of Los Angeles from issuing four separate permits for film production," AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand said in a statement issued Friday.

"Although the WGA was rebuffed by the LA Board of Public Works, the WGA's attempt to derail production on films with completed scripts -- and thus to throw hundreds and hundreds more people out of work -- shows that the WGA's organizers are continuing to do whatever they can to make good on their boast to 'wreak havoc' on our industry."

The WGA issued a statement saying LA officials who approved the permits also agreed to a proposal to let the guild have "the opportunity to address the cast and crew of each film for 20 minutes to explain the issues in the strike."