The studios announced that they had suspended contract negotiations, saying the gap between the two sides was too great to make continuing worth it.

New details were released in an offer to get Hollywood writers back on the job, but the two sides don't seem to be on the same page yet.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra joined negotiators at the bargaining table, an indication that a deal may be near to end a monthlong strike by members of the United Auto Workers union that has paralyzed its factories. Barra and GM...