IA “prexy” Tom Short issued this statement today to commemorate the opening of DGA/AMPTP talks. Whether these talks will wind up “superceding” the stalled (to understate it) WGA talks, remains to be seen. Meanwhile:

“I’m glad to hear that the DGA is heading into formal negotiations with the AMPTP. As President of the IATSE, I represent over 50,000 members in two countries who have been impacted by the current labor situation. The industry is in trouble and tens of thousands of people are out of work. I hope that the DGA and the AMPTP can reach an agreement that puts us all on the road to getting back to work. I wish them the best of luck.”

Later, the WGA released this dare-we-say-terse statement of their own:

We wish the DGA well and hope that they achieve a fair deal that incorporates principles that will benefit all creative artists. The DGA has to do what is best for its membership, but it is important to remember that they do not represent actors and writers.