Hanks, Clooney urge SAG to avert strike

Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro have urged the Screen Actors Guild to take a non-confrontational approach to an upcoming contract deal.

The actors' group's agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers runs out on June 30 and a worst-case scenario could see industrial action like that just ended by writers in the US.

The four stars this week placed adverts in trade publications calling on SAG leaders to begin talks now so a deal can be reached. It is expected the actors will hold informal talks with studio executives before finalising things with the AMPTP.

So far SAG leaders have been reluctant, however, and have been arguing with the other actors' union AFTRA. This week the two have reportedly reached agreement suggesting contract talks could start soon.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg would only say: "We're always open to having discussions." Doug Allen, its national executive director, said it would negotiate "at a time that will most benefit our members".