WGA, Spyglass reach interim agreement

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The striking Writers Guild of America said Wednesday it has reached a comprehensive independent contract agreement with Spyglass Entertainment.

The company finances, produces and distributes theatrical motion pictures, including "The Sixth Sense," "Shanghai Noon," "Bruce Almighty," "Seabiscuit," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "27 Dresses."

"Spyglass Entertainment can now work with the most talented writers in the business -- members of the Writers Guilds," Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America West, and Michael Winship, president of the writers Guild of America East, said in a joint statement. "We are gratified that the company wants to move forward with us and we can continue to put people back to work."

"We are thrilled to have signed this interim agreement with the WGA and we look forward to continuing our long association with the best writers in the entertainment industry," said Spyglass Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum in a joint statement.

The WGA said the deal with Spyglass is similar to the pacts it recently announced with United Artists, Worldwide Pants and MRC, and addresses the issues important to writers, including payment for work distribute through new media.

The WGA went on strike against producers Nov. 5.