Thesp sitting pretty

Ferrera to shine in 'Darkness'

By CHRIS GARDNER

Ferrera

America Ferrera, star of ABC's upcoming "Betty the Ugly," has signed on to star in and exec produce the indie pic "Hacia la oscuridad" (Toward Darkness) for writer-director Antonio Negret.

Bilingual thriller concerns the last 90 minutes in the life of a kidnapped Colombian and the surrounding tension as his family, the ransom delivery man and a special ops team attempt to save him. Lensing is under way in Panama City, Panama.

Negret is producing the film with Craig Anderson, Luiza Ricupero and Brett Etre, Negret's manager. Ferrera exec produces with Daniel Negret, Randy Holleschau, Justin Goodman and Alex Yanev.

Ferrera starred in "Real Women Have Curves" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."

Negret most recently wrote and directed season two of "The Not So Foreign Filmmaker's Showcase" on cabler SiTV.