There are rumblings that contract talks between one of two actors unions and Hollywood producers may be hitting a wall.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) said in an e-mail to its members Monday that challenging issues remain, and a deal may not come easily or quickly.

The union, representing 70,000 actors, announcers, singers and journalists, says it has delivered a strong message to the producers on the issue of material posted on the internet.

Both the federation and the larger Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have said the protection of actors' right to consent to use of their work in video clips online is a make-or-break issue.

The producers say getting consent from every actor for online clips is cumbersome, and is offering to pay a fixed fee for their use.

Goodwill in the beginning

Before AFTRA's negotiations with the The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 5, its members ratified a a new contract covering such daytime TV programs as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Entertainment Tonight.

At the time, there was much goodwill between AFTRA and the Alliance. The tone seems to have changed.

The latest news is likely to put a chill on film and television productions, only just getting back on their feet after a three-month strike by writers that ended in mid-February.

AFTRA's statement doesn't bode well, either, for the other actors union.

SAG, which has about 120,000 members, has had a contentious time in talks.

Producers have been highly critical of the guild's insistence on doubling payments actors receive from DVD sales, with studio representatives saying talks with SAG were going nowhere in early May.

The actors' contract expires June 30.

With files from the Associated Press