The Dry Land's America Ferrera On the Excitement (and Frustrations) of a Post-Betty Life

America Ferrera's star was launched with the 2002 independent film Real Women Have Curves, and eight years later, she's hoping to strike similar indie gold with the new returning soldier drama The Dry Land, which she produced and stars in (the film was directed by her fiance, Ryan Piers Williams). How much has the independent film landscape changed since then -- and how much has Ferrera herself changed now that Ugly Betty has closed up shop after four seasons? She told Movieline.

Both Real Women Have Curves and The Dry Land launched at Sundance, but how different was the experience for you this time?

I think it's a lot harder to get an independent film made these days, since the financial structure has been a little bit remodeled. I don't think it was as celebrity-based back then, either. I don't know if I was that aware back then -- I was young, and I didn't even know what an independent film was when I started. I didn't know what Sundance was! I wasn't an expert on it back then, but it certainly feels like a harder thing to be successful these days than it was then. Back then, there'd be 2, 3, 4 movies coming out of Sundance that were bought and distributed and well-promoted, and it just doesn't feel that way anymore.

And even the little ones used to come out in some fashion. That's not guaranteed anymore.

Right.

What's harder: finding the funds to make the movie, or finding meaningful distribution?

There are levels. I mean, it's hard! They're separate battles; everyone wants to get their movie made, and if you win that battle, good for you. If you get it seen by anyone, great, and if you actually get it in thetas, you're so blessed. Even being in the theater doesn't mean that anyone is gonna know you're in the theater, either. [Laughs] It's so complicated and so much more full of barriers than anyone could imagine.

And you've been involved with The Dry Land from the start, so you've been there for each barrier.

Yeah, it's a very homegrown project. I was involved as an executive producer as Ryan wrote the first draft, and did not intend to act in it. As we got closer and closer to doing it and it was apparent that I was going to have the time, I signed on to act in it, but being part of something from the idea on...it's so funny. There are things I take for granted when I'm doing press for a studio film, like, "Yeah, they're going to fly me out and I'll do this TV show to promote it."

As you did for a big movie like How to Train Your Dragon.

Yeah, it's so taken for granted, but when it's a film that you saw come from its infancy to making it to the big screen, whenever anyone wants to talk to you about it, it's just like, "Oh my God! Let me tell you all about it!" We just found out that we were going to be on the Today show and Good Morning America and we were, like, freaking out. We were like, [screams]. And I've been on the Today show and Good Morning America several times, and it's never been as exciting for me as it is now.

I mean, I think it gives me perspective as an actor, like, "Maybe you shouldn't take these things for granted. These platforms are not easy to reach and it is a remarkable thing when you have them." It just gives me perspective now that we're the little guy and we don't have that. I had two films come out in March and they were huge national campaigns and junkets on both coasts, and then a few months later, I feel so grateful and blesses that anyone wants to talk to me about what I'm doing. [Laughs]

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