Daphne Zuniga is heading behind the camera…

The 56-year-old half-Guatemalan American actress and former Melrose Place and One Tree Hill star will make her feature directorial debut with The Protegé, an indie thriller starring Jeanette Sousa, Breanne Hill, Keenan Tracey and Philip Boyd.

The film follows Amanda Birch (Sousa) who, after three years of estrangement from her family, returns to reconnect with her sister Lauren, the manager of a beloved holistic studio. Upon her return, things only get worse when her sister Lauren mysteriously dies days later. Soon, the entire family is suspected in a murder investigation as it becomes clear that Lauren’s death was no accident. Amanda leads an investigation of her own to find out who’s responsible for her sister’s murder.

Nicole Schubert and Blaine Chiappetta penned the screenplay.

Zuniga’s most recent acting credits include A Christmas Arrangement, Witness Unprotected and Heartbeats,