Hollywood has assembled a "war cabinet" in response to requests from the White House for help. But tensions are emerging, with some entertainment industry members unhappy that they may appear to be acting as government operatives.

A special committee has now been formed to coordinate the entertainment business's response to the war. About 40 industry members have been recruited to work on the war effort. They include senior representatives from all the major film and television studios.

Jack Valenti, director of the Motion Picture Association of America, is heading the new committee. The move follows a meeting in Beverly Hills between President Bush's adviser Karl Rove and senior entertainment business figures.

But Hollywood's readiness to help the White House with patriotic films has raised concerns about where the relationship might lead. Mr Valenti has said "content is not on the table", indicating that no one would take direction from the government on scripts.

The actor and director Robert Redford responded to this stance by asking: "If content is not on the table, what is?"

Mr Valenti yesterday reiterated that the industry would retain a suitable distance from the government.