Weinsteins Make Deal With WGA

Harvey Weinstein confirmed rumors that his independent film company, The Weinstein Company, negotiated an interim agreement with striking writers. Mr. Weinstein told The New York Times that his New York-based company had come to terms with the Writers Guild of America in a deal similar to the one reached last week by United Artists, the first independent movie company to reach an interim contract with the writers, who have been on strike since Nov. 5.

“We need to get people back to work,” Mr. Weinstein said of the agreement. He said the alliance of executives of the major film and television companies — which broke off talks with the writers guild last month — had reacted “negatively” to his decision to reach an independent agreement. But Mr. Weinstein said he felt an obligation to help break the logjam that has shut down much of the entertainment industry.

According to Mr. Weinstein, the deal contains provisions that will allow it to be superseded by any agreement ultimately reached with the major companies through their bargaining group, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

One project that will immediately benefit from the independent deal is “Nine,” a planned film from Rob Marshall, who directed “Chicago.” Anthony Minghella, who has worked with Mr. Weinstein on films like “The English Patient” and “Cold Mountain,” is expected to begin working on revisions of a script that was written by Michael Tolkin, Mr. Weinstein said.