WGA

The Writers Guild of America began life in the early part of the last century as more of a social society than a professional organisation. Until 1933, the clubhouse of the Screen Writers Guild, as it was then known, was a place where movie writers could go and swap stories and knock back the martinis. In that year, a group of 10 members gathered at Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel and vowed to press the studios into recognising the guild as the body that would represent writers' interests. It took almost 10 years to agree the contracts, but they are now the sole bargaining body for American movie, TV and radio writers. If the studios want a deal, they've got to get it past these guys.

AMPTP

THE Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is on the other side of the dispute. Since 1982, this rather shadowy organisation has represented over 350 production companies and studios. In truth, only a small number of the more powerful studios, like Disney and 20th Century Fox, have a significant voice. This organisation represents people like Rupert Murdoch, who owns Fox studios along with practically everything else on the planet, so when they talk, people listen.

SAG

THE Screen Actors Guild is no ordinary trade union - not many unions can boast Moses as a former president. Yet Charlton Heston (Moses in The 10 Commandments) once headed-up this organisation which negotiates on behalf of movie performers. Other former supremos include Jimmy Cagney, Edward Asner and Ronald Reagan. Controversially, Reagan was in charge during the 1950s witch-hunts, which saw a number of actors barred from working because of their alleged Communist sympathies. Alongside AFTRA (see below), SAG organised the recent commercials strike which so inconvenienced Liz Hurley. Many actors went hungry during that dispute so they may not be keen for a fight this time.

AFTRA

THE American Federation of Television and Radio Artists represents workers in a number of fields - news, entertainment, commercials and the record industry being the most significant. Its diverse membership includes writers, announcers, sportscasters and disc jockeys. In the upcoming negotiations it is the actors and writers who may have the loudest voice.

If anybody tried to mess with Kent Brockman or Krusty the Clown out of The Simpsons, they would have to answer to AFTRA.