Clooney addresses WGA strike at prize gala

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SANTA MONICA , Calif., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Actor George Clooney has called on all parties involved in the Hollywood writers strike to resume talks and hammer out a deal to get people back to work.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since Nov. 5.

Most U.S. scripted television shows and numerous film productions have since been shut down by the walkout.

"This is a one-industry town," Clooney said from the stage at Monday night's 13th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony.

"And when a strike happens, it's not just writers or actors, it's restaurants and hotels and agencies and our hope is that all of the players involved will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish. We want this to be done; that's the most important thing. It matters to all of us."

Clooney then presented his frequent collaborator and human rights activist Don Cheadle with the inaugural Joel Siegel Award, which the Broadcast Film Critics' Association said was created to honor those in the film community whose work both on and off screen inspires and contributes to the good of humanity.