FIRST OFF . . .

Representatives from the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are scheduled to meet with federal mediator Leonard Farrell this morning for their first formal negotiation since talks broke off March 10. Writers on the East and West coasts went on strike March 7, shortening the season for some prime-time TV shows and delaying the start of several new series. Alliance spokesman Herb Steinberg said he had little hope that today’s session will lead to a quick resolution of the strike. Disputed issues include: how much writers are paid for foreign broadcasts of their material and for reruns on domestic television, and how much creative control they wield over their work.