Movie productions keep rolling despite uncertainty

Several big movies set for release next year also were still rolling the cameras Wednesday.

In the five-week period ended June 24, the number of film permits increased 12 percent from 94 to 105, according to the nonprofit agency FilmL.A. Inc., which gets government permits for film producers. And during the week ended Tuesday, FilmL.A. obtained 21 permits, up from 13 in the same period a year ago, spokesman Todd Lindgren said.

The brisk activity seemed to belie assertions by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that the industry had lapsed into a "de facto strike" because of uncertainty about the potential for a strike by the Screen Actors Guild.

"I wouldn't say it is the de facto strike that the AMPTP has mentioned," Lindgren said. "We are seeing the opposite."

The contract between SAG and the studios expired Tuesday. Union leaders said they had not called for a strike authorization vote by members and would remain at the bargaining table.

The smaller American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, meanwhile, awaited the results of a ratification vote by its 70,000 members on a contract for a handful of prime-time TV shows. The results are due July 8.

Studios vowed to keep Hollywood working.

With most labor groups having reached deals with the producers on their contracts, the industry alliance made what it said was its final offer to the Screen Actors Guild: a pact worth more than $250 million in additional compensation to guild members over three years.

SAG officials were studying the offer but previously said it did not appear to address some key issues for its 120,000 members.