Screen Actors Guild

From Lea Michele's emerald-green Malandrino gown to Diane Kruger's mustard-yellow Jason Wu; from Anna Kendrick's purple Alberta Ferretti bustier gown, to Carey Mulligan's raspberry strapless Lanvin worn with a crystal brooch at the waist, the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards was a rainbow of color. But the best looks were more notable for having an interesting structure and silhouette than for their hue. Drew Barrymore, this award season's most fearless fashionista, didn't disappoint.

After six days of continuous talks, the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood talent agents failed to negotiate a new agreement governing the relationship between actors and their agents. The latest breakdown in talks leaves the two groups uncertain what happens next. The Assn. of Talent Agents trade group said in a statement that its members "will continue to operate their agencies as usual" even though a previous agreement with SAG expired last month. No new talks are scheduled.

It's not always easy being a towering figure in Hollywood -- just ask 6-foot-6 veteran character actor Ken Howard. For one of his first jobs in Hollywood, the wardrobe department tried to put him in an old Union Army uniform that had been worn by John Wayne in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," but the sleeves were too short. More recently, when the 65-year-old was cast as New York white-shoe lawyer Phelan Beale in the HBO film "Grey Gardens," the costumers had to sew round the clock because they couldn't find real 1930s suits that fit. Yet in politics, "height helps," says Howard, with a laugh.

You've probably never heard of John Eric Bentley. But you might recognize his face. The 38-year-old actor has played a park ranger in the TV series "Bones," a police officer in "CSI: Miami" and a judge on "Hannah Montana." Yet despite some 50 film and TV credits, Bentley makes barely enough to support his four children and pay the mortgage on his West Hills home.

Hollywood's squabbling actors unions appear to be ready to bury the hatchet. It's been almost two years since the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists broke off its 27-year bargaining pact with the Screen Actors Guild, with whom it waged turf battles, including a tiff over the CBS soap "The Bold and the Beautiful." But Sunday, a key committee of AFTRA is expected to recommend to its national board that the union resume joint bargaining with SAG for prime-time TV contracts, people familiar with the situation said.

Dalny Marga Valdes' resume gets right to the point. No civic awards or honorary degrees. Just a list of the 70-some X-rated films she has performed in, like "Bootylicious Trailer Trash" and "Tender Loins," broken into graphically descriptive categories. But despite all her time before the cameras, the list failed to impress the Screen Actors Guild, which rejected her repeated attempts to join the union that represents performers in mainstream films and television.

Ken Howard scored his second big win this week. Screen Actors Guild members elected the veteran character actor, who on Sunday won an Emmy for his role in HBO's "Grey Gardens," as the group's new president, capping a bitter election campaign that divided Hollywood's largest union. Howard soundly defeated "In the Heat of the Night" actress Anne-Marie Johnson, SAG's first vice president, who was backed by the faction that swept outgoing president Alan Rosenberg into office four years ago. A coalition led by Howard consolidated its power on the national board, winning a majority of the 22 seats up for grabs on the 69-member board.

In the summer of 2003, Austin Highsmith, a young actress from North Carolina, packed a suitcase and drove cross-country in pursuit of the Hollywood dream. Years followed, as they do, of waiting tables and auditions, until February when the 27-year-old finally landed her first big break as a guest star on CBS' "Ghost Whisperer." But as luck had it, her episode aired the same week the writers strike began. Hardly any Hollywood honchos saw it.

Hollywood's largest actors union is cutting 8% of its staff in the face of investment losses and declining membership dues. The Screen Actors Guild plans to lay off about 35 workers to help close a $6.5-million deficit in the union's fiscal 2009 budget. The cuts affect several departments and include those who work in the union's organizing and information technology departments, according to people familiar with the matter. Affected workers will be notified this week.

The gritty, globe-trotting drama "Babel" continued to be an award-season standout Thursday, picking up three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's critically acclaimed film weaving together four seemingly disconnected story lines earned a nod for its ensemble cast, which includes Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett as a couple whose trip to Morocco takes a tragic turn.

After watching the Golden Globes red carpet turn into a soggy glamour scramble, the organizers of the Screen Actors Guild Awards pitched a tent over their scarlet rug. The rain never came Saturday evening at the Shrine Auditorium, but the covering still felt right -- every celebrity circus needs a big top. The Times' Geoff Boucher and Amy Kaufman share some moments from the center ring, inside and outside the show. The show ended with a director singing the praises of another director.

From Lea Michele's emerald-green Malandrino gown to Diane Kruger's mustard-yellow Jason Wu; from Anna Kendrick's purple Alberta Ferretti bustier gown, to Carey Mulligan's raspberry strapless Lanvin worn with a crystal brooch at the waist, the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards was a rainbow of color. But the best looks were more notable for having an interesting structure and silhouette than for their hue. Drew Barrymore, this award season's most fearless fashionista, didn't disappoint.

"Inglourious Basterds," Quentin Tarantino's Nazi-era ode to the power of cinematic historical revision, won the Screen Actors Guild's biggest award Saturday night for movie ensemble acting -- something of a surprise win for the film that featured an international cast of stars, first-timers and unknowns. In the acting categories, Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock walked off with the top trophies for their starring roles in dramas ("Crazy Heart" and "The Blind Side," respectively).

Hollywood's squabbling actors unions appear to be ready to bury the hatchet. It's been almost two years since the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists broke off its 27-year bargaining pact with the Screen Actors Guild, with whom it waged turf battles, including a tiff over the CBS soap "The Bold and the Beautiful." But Sunday, a key committee of AFTRA is expected to recommend to its national board that the union resume joint bargaining with SAG for prime-time TV contracts, people familiar with the situation said.

"Up in the Air," which announced itself as an awards season front-runner earlier this week with six Golden Globe nominations, earned three nominations from the Screen Actors Guild on Thursday but didn't make the cut on the group's top award. "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" and "Inglourious Basterds" joined "Up in the Air" in receiving the most nominations. SAG handed individual nominations to "Up in the Air's" three main stars: George Clooney for lead actor and Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick for best supporting actress.

FILM Cast "An Education" "The Hurt Locker" "Inglourious Basterds" "Nine" "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire" Male actor in a leading role Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart" George Clooney, "Up in the Air" Colin Firth, "A Single Man" Morgan Freeman, "Invictus" Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker" Female actor in a leading role Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" ...

The Screen Actors Guild board of directors has appointed David P. White as the national executive director and chief negotiator for Hollywood's largest union. The appointment of White, who had been serving as interim executive director, was widely anticipated after a group of moderate actors that orchestrated the firing of his predecessor, Doug Allen, installed White in January. The moderates recently solidified their position on the national board when their candidate, veteran character actor Ken Howard, soundly defeated Anne-Marie Johnson, who was backed by the faction that had supported Allen and swept outgoing SAG President Alan Rosenberg into office four years ago. Johnson and Rosenberg filed an unsuccessful lawsuit to block the board's firing of Allen, who led the union during a yearlong contract standoff with the studios.

It's not always easy being a towering figure in Hollywood -- just ask 6-foot-6 veteran character actor Ken Howard. For one of his first jobs in Hollywood, the wardrobe department tried to put him in an old Union Army uniform that had been worn by John Wayne in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," but the sleeves were too short. More recently, when the 65-year-old was cast as New York white-shoe lawyer Phelan Beale in the HBO film "Grey Gardens," the costumers had to sew round the clock because they couldn't find real 1930s suits that fit. Yet in politics, "height helps," says Howard, with a laugh.

Ken Howard scored his second big win this week. Screen Actors Guild members elected the veteran character actor, who on Sunday won an Emmy for his role in HBO's "Grey Gardens," as the group's new president, capping a bitter election campaign that divided Hollywood's largest union. Howard soundly defeated "In the Heat of the Night" actress Anne-Marie Johnson, SAG's first vice president, who was backed by the faction that swept outgoing president Alan Rosenberg into office four years ago. A coalition led by Howard consolidated its power on the national board, winning a majority of the 22 seats up for grabs on the 69-member board.

Screen Actors Guild: An article in Thursday's Business section on payments made to senior executives of the Screen Actors Guild in the last fiscal year did not make clear that some of the pay increases consisted largely of accrued vacation that, under guild policy, employees could elect to cash out. The union's executive director does not approve such one-time payments.