FilmLA Inc., the nonprofit group that handles film permits and promotes the industry, has declared that the screenwriters strike might cost Los Angeles economy around 21 million dollars in direct losses for each day that it continues, if the strike would extend into December.

FilmLA President Steve MacDonald reported for the Los Angeles Times, on Wednesday, "If the strike continues it's going to have a huge impact on the local economy and middle-class jobs."

The strike started almost three weeks ago, since the writers and the major studios cannot reach a compromise regarding the pay for the work that is being distributed over new media, such as Internet, iPods or mobile phones.

On Monday, writers and major studios are expected to resume talks, but meanwhile the heads of the top agencies and network conglomerates are worried about the long-term effects of the strike, as they would have to stop production of the 44 one-hour dramas and 21 situation comedies that are shot in Los Angeles if the strikers continue their protests in the next month, due to the fact that they would not have anymore fresh scripts to keep the crew filming.

This would imply the loss of 15.000 jobs and 21.3 million dollars daily, as the FilmLA estimated, based on the average number of employees on these shows, and their typical budgets and shooting cycles

However, the writers have pledged to continue striking until a favorable deal is reached and signed.

The last strike of the screenwriters occurred in 1988, for a period of 22 weeks, during which the entertainment industry has suffered losses of an estimated 500 million dollars. Since then the Hollywood’s global earnings raised, which takes the current costs of a prolonged strike much higher.

So far, at least 24 television shows have stopped production, including the appreciated “Desperate Housewives” and “The Office” and all of the late night talk shows.