There are a lot of screenplays being purchased, optioned, and green lit in Hollywood right now. This is all extremly encouraging for first time writers. Never give up, never surrender. All of the following writer's would tell you the same thing.

Sheldon Turner (“Up in the Air”) has been selected to write “Big Tuna” a biopic on the life of Chicago mobsters Tony Accardo and Sam Giancana. The film is being developed by Michael Mann.

Aside from the Jim Carrey vehicle “I Love You Phillip Morris”, the heavily promoted ninja western “The Warriors Way”, and Natalie Portman's “Black Swan” there are several other movies coming out this weekend of a more independent nature.

Following the success of his first screenplay, Peter Craig (“Town”) has been selected by Sony Pictures to adapt “Fathers and Guns”. Originally a French-Canadian film called “De pere en flic”, the story revolves around a father and son who both happen to be police officers.

This Thanksgiving weekend is a big release time for studios Disney (“Tangled”) and 20 Century Fox (“Love and Other Drugs”) and stars Dwayne Johnson (“Faster”) and Cher (“Burlesque”). Luckily for fans of independent and foreign films there are several releases for them as well.

Several screenwriters are very thankful this Thanksgiving weekend that their scripts have been greenlit or are close to being purchased.

Eric Heisserer and Ron Moore's script of “The Thing” looks to have secured a release date in theatres. The remake of John Carpenter's original, set in Antarctica, follows a group of scientists who encounter a strange extraterrestrial organism that begins taking over their minds. The film will hit theatres October 14^th, 2011.

Evidently there is a movie that came out this weekend about a boy wizard. So if you like that sort of thing be sure to check it out, otherwise don't miss the following films.

An eclectic group of scripts have been optioned and green lit recently. For starters, is “Afterburn”, written by Paul Ens and Scott Chittwood which has attracted the attention of action star Gerard Butler. The film, based on a series of graphic novels, is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth where the survivors hunt for leftover treasure.

Everyone is probably aware of the three big movies this weekend, Denzel Washington in Unstoppable, Harrison Ford in Morning Glory, and aliens galore in Skyline. What everyone may not be aware of are the tons of independent, foreign, and documentary films being released this weekend.

In an attempt to secure the younger demographic, Disney Studios has sought the opportunity to work with several high profile filmmakers and screenwriters. First off, this week Disney announced a development deal with Jon Favreau, writer of the 90's Independent hit “Swingers” and director of the “Iron Man” movies.

Out this weekend in wide release are Megamind, Due Date, and Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls. If none of those strike your fancy, or if you've seen them all already (hey, it happens...) then there are plenty of other choices for you at the box office this weekend.