Showdown in Tinseltown

Elliot Gould supported last year's commercial strike

The BBC's Peter Bowes analyses the background to the looming writers' and actors' strikes in Hollywood.

The first round of talks has begun in Hollywood aimed at preventing a long strike that could cripple the film-making capital of the world.

Industry executives have sat down with television and movie screenwriters to try to craft a deal before their current contract expires on 1 May.

The looming dispute revolves around the issue of higher repeat fees for writers - residuals as they are known in Tinsel Town - when their work is sold on home video and DVD.

In addition, the writers are seeking increased royalties for programmes broadcast on cable TV and in foreign markets.

They are also looking to resolve a number of philosophical issues.

Many feel alienated from the film-mak