Talks continue past deadline

Monday, July 2, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Their old contract expired, Hollywood actors and producers made progress toward a new pact that would avoid an industry-crippling strike.

Negotiators for the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ended 14 hours of talks about midnight Sunday amid signs that the lengthy negotiations would lead to a new deal. They were expected to resume talks today.

The actors' contract expired Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and most of the 100 negotiators appeared in good spirits later in the morning when they returned to the headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for bargaining.

AFTRA spokeswoman Pamm Fair said late Sunday that the marathon bargaining signaled that progress was being made.

"The fact that we're still here indicates there's a reason to still be here," Fair said before talks concluded.

Both sides said they remain committed to reaching a new contract that would avert a potentially damaging walkout for the entertainment industry.

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