As the strike by Hollywood screenwriters heads into its 12th day, the ripple effect is increasing north of the border.

At least two TV shows that film in British Columbia are shutting down for lack of scripts. Others are getting close to running out of written material.

"On our lot, we have Bionic Woman — that has stopped production — and we also have Battlestar Galactica, which will be shutting down Friday," Pete Mitchell, executive vice-president of Vancouver Film Studios, told CBC News.

While some series remain in production, Mitchell predicted that a long strike will result in lasting damage to an already hurting North American film and television industry.

"The only thing a strike like this will do — an extended one — is drive people away from conventional film and television," he said. "We're already suffering, being challenged by competing with new media as it is, and this is certainly not going to help. … A lot of people who leave will not come back."

Officials say shutting down two shows can put at least 200 people out of work, as the closures would affect not just the cast and crew but also those in related industries, from caterers to the carpenters who build sets.

Those working on American productions filming outside of the U.S. are feeling helpless because of the distance, said Don Ramdsen, a business agent for cinematographers working on the West Coast.

"None of this stuff is in our control," he said. "There's no way we can have an effect. This battle is happening on the streets of New York City and the streets of Los Angeles. We're collateral damage."

Some Canadian producers, however, are weighing new opportunities during the strike, fielding inquiries about their shows from south of the border.

Janis Lundman, an executive producer of the Canadian miniseries Durham County, said it is garnering some interest from the U.S.

"This type of show may not normally have been considered by one of the larger and more conventional [U.S.] broadcasters. But they are looking at it, so it's very exciting," she said.

The Writers Guild of America began its strike on Nov. 5 after failing to reach agreement with the producers' association over compensation for electronic rights.

Late-night talks shows were the immediate casualties, with such programs as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman shifting to reruns.

However, the Hollywood trade media have recently reported on a quiet effort to get late-night shows back into production. The argument from producers is that only a fraction of these programs are scripted, with the majority filled with interviews and musical performances.

This week, the writers' guild picket lines in Los Angeles and New York were bolstered by an increasing number of famous TV faces from hit shows.

U.S. senator and potential presidential candidate John Edwards is also set to stop by a Burbank, Calif., picket line Friday afternoon to show his support for the screenwriters.

Writers' guilds around the world have also issued directives to their members asking them not to agree to contracts that might take work away from striking U.S. workers. These groups plan to stage in an international day of solidarity on Nov. 28 in support of their striking U.S. colleagues.

No new talks have been scheduled.