1995 The Entertainers/The Rookies

His life has changed, bet on it, but writer-actor-director Ed Burns, 27, is determined not to let his independence vanish. Which may be a trick, now that his Irish-American family comedy, The Brothers McMullen, has easily recouped its $25,000 cost with $10 million at the box office and made him a poster boy for overnight success. ''I'm not really interested in writing for anyone else,'' Burns says in a raspy, common-sense voice that makes you feel like you're swilling Guinness with a pal. ''Despite offers, I'm not going to act in somebody else's romantic comedy about an Irish guy from New York.'' Instead, Burns plays an Irish guy from New York in his own romantic comedy, She's the One, due in 1996. Was it rough stepping up to a $3 million budget and high-profile costars like Frasier's John Mahoney? ''Occasionally I do get these anxiety attacks,'' Burns says. ''I don't wanna be a big f -- -ing star, I want to be a storyteller.'' After a year like this, he should have no problem on either count.