Counting Down And Up

Dave McNary of Variety has the latest on the strike threat--with less than a week to go before time runs out...

With time running out to prevent a strike, studio and networks have jumpstarted stalled contract talks with a streamlined proposal that flatly nixes a hike on residuals for DVDs, one of the WGA's key demand

The companies presented the Writers Guild of America with the detailed package at Thursday's negotiating session with the goal of brushing aside issues that may be somewhat peripheral and begin the give-and-take of bargaining on nitty-gritty contract points.

But the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers also told the WGA to forget about demands for boosts in residuals...

Looks like this is gonna come down to wire--if a strike is to be avoided at all.

Meanwhile:

Travolta boards 'Pelham' remake



John Travolta is boarding "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," negotiating to join Denzel Washington in the Tony Scott-directed remake at Columbia...

Travolta and Washington will make a solid combo as long as JT can keep the over the top acting he sometimes does--see Swordfish and 2004's The Punisher as examples. Granted, those roles were written that way but still, for Pelham to be taken seriously, he'll need to keep that "skill" to a minimum.