Chris Messina of 'The Mindy Project' heads to the director's chair

You likely know him as the actor behind lovable OB/GYN Danny Castellano from "The Mindy Project," but Chris Messina is one of those actors you've been seeing everywhere. If not as Danny Castellano, then as Reese Lansing on HBO's "The Newsroom" or as Jason Bennett starring opposite Jennifer Aniston in "Cake."

Now the frontman is also heading behind the camera -- directing and starring in "Alex of Venice."

In the film, which premieres later this month, Alex is a young, workaholic mother whose life is thrown out of balance when her husband leaves and her sister moves in. Messina plays the departing husband.

The star's directorial debut is a poignant look at the pains of starting over when you thought you were all set.

Catch our interview with Chris Messina live at 12 p.m. EST in the video above!