SAG to respond to contract offer Thursday

LOS ANGELES, July 8 (UPI) -- A group of Hollywood TV and film producers said the Screen Actors Guild has requested more time to consider its proposed contract.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers made its final offer to SAG June 30. The previous AMPTP-SAG contract expired last week.

The AMPTP said Tuesday it was notified that the guild needed more time to consider the proposed contract and that it planned to respond to the offer Thursday afternoon at AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

"The producers remain hopeful that SAG will accept our final offer," AMPTP said in a statement.

SAG confirmed the meeting planned for later this week in a message posted on its Web site Tuesday.

"The Screen Actors Guild national negotiating committee remains dedicated to achieving a fair TV/Theatrical contract for SAG members as soon as possible," the SAG statement said. "The SAG national negotiating committee anticipates an equal effort and commitment by the employers and their representatives to achieve this goal."