Work dried up in Atlanta's booming film industry last winter and has been at a near-standstill ever since the industry's writers went on strike in May and actors joined them in July. Writers reached a deal late last month, but with the actors strike still ongoing, many Atlanta-based performers and behind-the-scenes crew members members are grappling for financial survival.

The actors union, SAG-AFTRA, is hoping to cut as good a deal with the studios as the writers union, WGA, did last week. But the negotiations, starting Monday, could be more complicated.