At Box Office Mojo, a list of theater counts for new films opening this weekend:

Enchanted (Buena Vista) / 3,730
Hitman (Fox) / 2,458
The Mist (MGM (Weinstein)) / 2,423
August Rush (Warner Bros.) / 2,310
This Christmas (Sony / Screen Gems) / 1,858
I'm Not There (Weinstein Company) / 130
Starting Out in the Evening (Roadside Attractions) / 7
Nina's Heavenly Delights (Regent Releasing) / 1

Focus Features has announced a deal for Gus Van Sant's "Milk," starring Sean Penn as the former San Francisco politician, Harvey Milk. Produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, the film will be co-financed by Michael London's Groundswell Productions and Focus Features, and distributed worldwide by Focus. The film, set to begin production in January, is being executive produced by Groundswell's Bruna Papandrea, William Horberg and Dustin Lance Black who wrote the original script.

Also tonight, according to reliable sources the short list of feature documentaries that will vie for the Academy Award is taking shape. It should be announced fully on Monday.

Get the latest now in the indieWIRE Buzz section.

At Box Office Mojo, a list of theater counts for new films opening this weekend:

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Fox) / 3,164
Beowulf (Paramount) / 3,153
Love in the Time of Cholera (New Line) / 852
Southland Tales (Samuel Goldwyn) / 63
Redacted (Magnolia) / 13
Margot at the Wedding (Paramount Vantage) / 2
Smiley Face (First Look) / 1

Surveying a day of striking, the Hollywood Reporter weighs in with coverage of "bring your star to the picket line," including Sarah Silverman boasting an "AMPTP: I Really Hate You Right Now" sign. Also, word that California's governor Schwarzenegger is trying to negotiate a deal between the studios and the writers.

In Variety, a report that a small number of writers for "The Young and the Restless" have decided to cross the picket line as the strike enters its 9th day.

As the Writers Guild Strike enters its fifth day, Variety asks, in a lead article, "Will producers turn to U.K. writers?"

At Box Office Mojo, a list of theater counts for new films opening this weekend:

Fred Claus (Warner Bros.) / 3,603
Lions for Lambs (United Artists) / 2,215
P2 (Summit Entertainment) / 2,131
After Dark's Horrorfest 2 (After Dark Films) / 323
Saawariya (Sony / Columbia) / 85
I'll Believe You (Stand Up Films) / 30
No Country for Old Men (Miramax) / 28
War/Dance (ThinkFilm) / 3

This afternoon in Los Angeles, the Writers Guild of America announced a strike against the studios and networks that comprise the AMPTP. The industry trades -- Variety and Hollywood Reporter -- indicated that the strike will begin on Monday. The announcement came on the heels of last night's standing room-only meeting of 3,000 Guild members where the negotiating committee recommended the walk out. [Eugene Hernandez]

More at indieWIRE.com.

"The Writers Guild of America is going on strike as early as Monday," reports Variety. "In a lively meeting of 3,000 guild members Thursday night, the WGA's negotiating committee announced its unanimous strike recommendation, a pronouncement that generated an enthusiastic response from the SRO crowd at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The decision also is sure to cause ripple effects within the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild as they negotiate their contracts within coming months."

At Box Office Mojo, a list of theater counts for new films opening this weekend:

Bee Movie (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 3,928
American Gangster (Universal) / 3,054
Martian Child (New Line) / 2,020
Darfur Now (Warner Independent) / 3
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (IFC) / 2
Diva (re-issue) (Rialto) / 1