Studio execs urge strike "restraint"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Top execs at CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. sent out letters Tuesday updating employees on the status of negotiations with Hollywood writers.

Both companies are members of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, and much of the language of their letters was similar. Company insiders said the messages were an attempt to keep employees optimistic ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday about the possibility of a resolution to the WGA strike.

"We think that restraint is important going forward and will make sensible, productive talks far more likely than those surrounded by the atmosphere we've witnessed the past couple weeks," CBS chief Leslie Moonves wrote in an e-mail to employees. "The resumption of talks is very welcome news indeed to everyone in the business," he added, noting that talks with the WGA are scheduled to resume Monday. "We are all, producers and writers alike, looking forward to an end to this strike and realize that there's no way it can be resolved unless both sides are talking."

Warners chief Barry Meyer used similar language in his letter to employees.

"We think that restraint is important going forward and will make sensible, productive talks far more likely," Meyer wrote. "The resumption of talks is very welcome news indeed to everyone in our business. We are all, producers and writers alike, looking forward to an end to this strike and realize that there's no way it can be resolved unless both sides are talking."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter