Joey Lauren Adams says she got tired of waiting for the phone to ring with acting job offers, so she decided to go behind the camera for her directorial debut “Come Early Morning.”

“I spent 19 years in Los Angeles and 16 of those acting, and for 16 years I’ve been sort of at the mercy of Hollywood,” said Adams, who has appeared in films including “Chasing Amy” and “Big Daddy.”

“You’re waiting for them to call and I needed to feel a little more proactive with my life,” she said.

Though it took about seven years to go from script to screen, Adams said she was excited to have a hometown audience see her film, starring Ashley Judd, at its Arkansas premiere Thursday.

“I’m so proud to be from Arkansas, and I’m very proud of this film. I tried to depict Southerners in a very honest way,” Adams told the moviegoers.

“Come Early Morning” is about a small town woman who has never committed to a serious relationship. It was filmed in central Arkansas and made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January.