Ed Burns Premieres Purple Violets

The premiere for writer/director/actor Ed Burns latest, Purple Violets, was a friendly affair Monday night, as the majority of the media scrum was in Queens for the premiere of Spider-Man 3. Burns, along with Debra Messing, Donal Logue, and Patrick Wilson amiably chatted with reporters who showed up in Tribeca for the 6 pm show. The film, shot entirely in New York and predominantly in Tribeca, is a relationship comedy/drama about college friends reconnecting with first loves. Burns characterized the film as "the first film I've really made that's explored my life post-Brothers McMullan."

Messing gushed how she got involved after Burns was a "Will and Grace" guest star. "Ed said, 'I'm writing a role for you.' He said he'd send me a script and he did. I said, 'I don't even have to read it, I'll do anything you do.' But I did read it, and I loved it!" Sporting a cast on her right hand after recent ligament surgery, Messing was also reveling in life post-sitcom. "I'm really enjoying being free-floating right now. I've been land locked for 10 years and for the first time I can go wherever I want, whenever I want... I could be in Ireland tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Logue confessed to opening night nerves, "I have an embarrassing masturbation scene in the movie." Asked how he prepared to watch that on screen, he quipped. "I'm sedated." With what? "Life, baby!"

Fellow costar Elizabeth Reaser, currently known for her role as a pregnant amnesiac on "Grey's Anatomy," said of Logue's masturbation scene, "Donal knows how to make that believable."

The last person to arrive was the film's other lead, Selma Blair, who showed up at 6:20, high-knee model walked the red carpet, posed for the cameras, and avoided all interviews.

The film itself was funny, smart, and shows New York at her finest. But, asked about his future prospects, Burns joked, "Considering the 8 films I've made have grossed a combined total of 3 cents, I think I'll move away from this kind of film because it's fiscally irresponsible," adding, "Any distributors in the house?" Hopefully.

For more HuffPost coverage of the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, go here.

- Katherine Thomson

Pictures from Getty