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Long before Connie Britton was perfecting her "y'alls" as Tami Taylor on "Friday Night Lights" she played Ed Burns' put-upon sister-in-law in "The Brothers McMullen." The 1995 indie sensation was Britton's screen debut, and while she has become famous for her television roles on "Friday Night Lights," "American Horror Story" and "Nashville," Britton's movie career has continued to be intertwined with her original director and co-star. In addition to "Brothers McMullen," Britton has also starred for Burns in "No Looking Back," "Looking for Kitty" and his new feature, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," where she plays his onscreen love interest.

Britton took time out of her busy "Nashville" shooting schedule to talk with HuffPost Entertainment about her debut in "Brothers McMullen," why it can be difficult to find fulfilling movie roles, and the latest on that "Friday Night Lights" movie.

How has your relationship with Ed changed since 1995?

It's funny, because...

Long before Connie Britton was perfecting her "y'alls" as Tami Taylor on "Friday Night Lights" she played Ed Burns' put-upon sister-in-law in "The Brothers McMullen." The 1995 indie sensation was Britton's screen debut, and while she has become famous for her television roles on "Friday Night Lights," "American Horror Story" and "Nashville," Britton's movie career has continued to be intertwined with her original director and co-star. In addition to "Brothers McMullen," Britton has also starred for Burns in "No Looking Back," "Looking for Kitty" and his new feature, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," where she plays his onscreen love interest.

Britton took time out of her busy "Nashville" shooting schedule to talk with HuffPost Entertainment about her debut in "Brothers McMullen," why it can be difficult to find fulfilling movie roles, and the latest on that "Friday Night Lights" movie.

How has your relationship with Ed changed since 1995?

It's funny, because...

Edward Burns' 11th film as a writer-director, "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas," is also a reunion for the Long Island native. For the first time in 16 years, Burns and actor Michael McGlone share the screen, playing combative brothers just as they did in Burns' first two efforts, "The Brothers McMullen" and "She's The One."

Available via on demand services starting on Nov. 21 -- and due in theaters on Dec. 7 -- "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" focuses on an Irish-American family on Long Island, dealing with the return of its estranged patriarch during the holiday season. Burns and McGlone star opposite an array of character actors -- Kerry Bishe, Heather Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Marsha Dietlein, Noah Emmerich, Brian James D'Arcy, Daniella Pineda, Ed Lauter -- as well as Connie Britton (the "Nashville" star has worked with Burns twice previously, in "The Brothers McMullen" and "Looking for Kitty"). Burns has called the film his "most personal work.

"The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" is a homecoming of sorts Edward Burns: The new film reunites the writer/director/star with Michael McGlone and Connie Britton, both of whom starred in "The Brothers McMullen," Burns' breakout 1995 indie.

Starring that aforementioned trio -- Burns also worked with McGlone on "She's the One" and the short film "Doggy Bags"; Britton appeared in "No Looking Back" and "Looking for Kitty" -- as well as a cadre of recognizable character actors (Kerry Bishe, Heather Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Marsha Dietlein, Noah Emmerich, Brian James D'Arcy, Daniella Pineda, Ed Lauter), "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas" is a spiritual cousin to "The Brothers McMullen." The film takes place on Long Island and focuses on an Irish-American family -- in this case, the Fitzgeralds -- dealing with some internal strife around the holiday season. Burns has called the film his "most personal work."

Tribeca Film will release "The Fitzgerald Family Christmas...

The Tribeca Film Festival will close its 10th edition with the world premiere of Edward Burns’ “Newlyweds.” The film will premiere Saturday, April 30, at Bmcc Tpac.

“Newlyweds” is the 10th film written and directed by Burns and the sixth to premiere at Tff. Burns, who wrote, directed and stars in the film, has had a strong connection with Tff since its founding. “Ash Wednesday” world premiered as part of the inaugural Tff lineup in 2002, and “Looking for Kitty,” “Purple Violets” and “Nice Guy Johnny” have also been festival premieres over subsequent years.

The film, shot almost exclusively in New York City’s TriBeCa neighborhood, is a chronicle of modern marriage, pointing out an essential truth: When you get married, you’re not just getting a husband or wife—you’re getting the family, the friends, and even the exes. The cast includes Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Max Baker, Marsha Dietlein Bennett and Kerry Bishé.

The Tribeca Film Festival will close its 10th edition with the world premiere of Edward Burns’ “Newlyweds.” The film will premiere Saturday, April 30, at Bmcc Tpac.

“Newlyweds” is the 10th film written and directed by Burns and the sixth to premiere at Tff. Burns, who wrote, directed and stars in the film, has had a strong connection with Tff since its founding. “Ash Wednesday” world premiered as part of the inaugural Tff lineup in 2002, and “Looking for Kitty,” “Purple Violets” and “Nice Guy Johnny” have also been festival premieres over subsequent years.

The film, shot almost exclusively in New York City’s TriBeCa neighborhood, is a chronicle of modern marriage, pointing out an essential truth: When you get married, you’re not just getting a husband or wife—you’re getting the family, the friends, and even the exes. The cast includes Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Max Baker, Marsha Dietlein Bennett and Kerry Bishé.

The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, announced today it will close its 10th edition with the world premiere of Edward Burns' Newlyweds. The film will premiere Saturday, April 30, at Bmcc Tpac.

Newlyweds is the tenth film written and directed by Edward Burns and the sixth to premiere at Tff. Burns, who wrote, directed and stars in Newlyweds, has had a strong connection with Tff since its founding. Ash Wednesday world premiered as part of the inaugural Tff lineup in 2002, and Looking for Kitty, Purple Violets and Nice Guy Johnny have also been Festival premieres over subsequent years.

The film, shot almost exclusively in New York City's TriBeCa neighborhood, is a chronicle of modern marriage, pointing out an essential truth: When you get married, you're not just getting a husband or wife-you're getting the family, the friends, and even the exes. With crackling humor and sharp insights into contemporary relationships,...

Edward Burn's latest film, Newlyweds is set to close the 2011 Tribece Film Festival, it was announced today. The film will have its premiere on April 30th. Details from the official press release are as follows: Newlyweds is the tenth film written and directed by Ed Burns and the sixth to premiere at Tff. Burns, who wrote, directed and stars in Newlyweds, has had a strong connection with Tff since its founding. Ash Wednesday world premiered as part of the inaugural Tff lineup in 2002, and Looking for Kitty, Purple Violets and Nice Guy Johnnyhave also been Festival premieres over subsequent years. The film, shot almost exclusively in New York City.s TriBeCa neighborhood, is a chronicle of modern marriage, pointing out an essential truth: When you get married, you.re not...

While procrastinating working yesterday, I was following Ed Burns’ Twitter stream, in which he detailed the no-budget nature of his latest film, Newlyweds. With a shooting budget of $9,000, Burns worked with a three-person crew, shot on the Canon 5D (which he owns), had the actors wear their own clothes and do their own hair and make up, and worked without lights (except an occasional china ball) and sound mixer (the actors wore lavs). Tweeted Burns, “Sound is important but don’t let it slow you down. The Italian Neo-realists didn’t and they made some pretty great films…. No disrespect to soundmen and women, but on these shooting schedules (12 days) you can’t be precious. When I have a budget, I have respect.”

He also revealed the budgets of all his films: “Budgets for past movies: The Groomsmen 3 Million, Purple Violets 4 Million, She’s the One 3 Million, Sidewalks of NY 1 Million,...

In the 15 years that have passed since he launched his career as a multi-hyphenate with the Sundance hit The Brothers McMullen, Edward Burns has continued to write, direct, act in and produce his own projects while appearing in other people's films. Some of those acting gigs have been great (Saving Private Ryan) and, let's face it, many have not, but they've all allowed Burns the luxury of making his own personal projects every few years (She's the One, No Looking Back, Sidewalks of New York, Ash Wednesday, Looking for Kitty, The Groomsmen, Purple Violets).