For over three months, screenwriters and Hollywood studios have been deadlocked over the sharing of DVD and new media revenues. This week both sides are resuming informal talks, with the Writers' Guild agreeing to drop previous proposals to unionize writers who work on animated movies and reality TV shows. This most recent round of talks has been spurred by last Friday's agreement between the studios and the Directors Guild of America (DGA), which some see as a blueprint for the writers' negotiations. Directors secured a fee for web-streamed programming and a 100% increase in fees for DVD sales.

On this edition of Sprouts, author and actor Malachy McCourt speaks with Michael Winship, President of The Writers' Guild of America East. Their conversation was originally broadcast on WBAI/Pacifica Radio on January 13, 2008.

This week's Sprouts edition is hosted by Malachy McCourt of WBAI in New York City, with production assistance from Janet Coleman, David Dozer and Doug George.