LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Screen Actors Guild has cut a deal that would let its members work for an independent film company regardless of a future strike against the major studios.

SAG announced a deal late Wednesday with The Film Department that guarantees completion of nine movies that haven't started filming.

One of them, a romantic comedy called "The Rebound" starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, is scheduled to begin production next week in New York City.

Such "guaranteed completion contracts" are available only to independent feature producers.

Calls to SAG and The Film Department early Thursday weren't immediately returned.

On Tuesday, SAG began contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but both sides have said little about the talks.

Those negotiations run through April 26. The producers then start talks with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on April 28.

The Writers Guild of America signed several interim deals during its three-month strike against the major studios earlier this year.

It is unclear whether SAG's interim deal will exert any real pressure against the studios. Variety said AMPTP members have been holding off starting projects until after a new deal is set with the guild.

SAG's contract with the studios expires June 30.

Top SAG officials have indicated they're intent on negotiating a contract that betters the deals reached by the writers and directors guilds.

Those unions won key victories, including jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution online, and new and better compensation for shows and movies streamed or downloaded online.