WGA, MRC reach interim agreement

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The striking Writers Guild of America and MRC -- an independent film, television and digital studio -- have reached a comprehensive interim agreement.

The terms of the pact are similar to the guild's recent deals with Worldwide Pants and United Artists.

"This is an exciting agreement that will open up opportunities for writers, especially in new media," Patric M. Verrone, president of WGA West, and Michael Winship, president of WGA East, said in a joint statement Monday. "We know that guild members will be eager to be a part of the MRC creative team."

"MRC operates from two basic concepts and this agreement is a natural extension of that ethos: We treat talent as our partners and we maximize distribution across all digital, film and television platforms," said MRC co-CEOs Asif Satchu and Modi Wiczyk. "As with all of our partnerships, we could not have accomplished this agreement without creative talent. In this case, we especially want to thank our colleague ('Family Guy' creator) Seth MacFarlane for helping pave the way with the WGA and also to the leaders of the guild who worked with the utmost professionalism."