Out in UK cinemas today is the latest Sean Baker masterpiece, The Florida Project. A heart-wrenching tale of Florida’s hidden homeless community, Baker brings a little family to life in his raw portrayal of single mum Halley (Bria Vinaite) and her daughter Moonee (Brooklynn Prince). Premiering at London Film Festival this October, the film has been a hit among critics and the public alike, and it’s all thanks to the stars. Brooklynn Prince was just 6 years old when learning the ways of happy-go-lucky Moonee, as she scavenges ice cream and turns a trip round the local fields into a safari, all with her new best friend Jancey (Valeria Cotto). Making the best of life in the Magic Castle Motel and in the poor suburbs of Disney World, the film’s quirky child eye perspective clashes with the gritty drama of living life on the poverty line – in the most poignantly beautiful way possible.
Brooklynn Prince and Valeria Cotto may only be 7 and 6, but they have wit quicker than that of a 40-year-old stand up comedian. Understanding the reality of her character, Prince has spoken about putting herself in Moonee’s mindset: “I just thought about all the stuff that was going on and then I just started crying”. Both her and Cotto enjoyed filming with Baker and the cast, especially film debutante Bria Vinaite who they believe was the funniest on set, and Willem Dafoe who is both “amazing” and saved them seats at lunch. In return, Vinaite has described how Brooklynn “really felt like my daughter”, and Dafoe named her a “firecracker”. The two young actresses improvised together, with Brooklynn shouting iconic lines like “you’re not welcome!” in response to Dafoe (a highlight of the film’s trailer) and playing around with her ‘mum’ at breakfast, all off the bat.
We caught up with the two rising stars at London Film Festival, and asked them some quick fire questions to learn what it’s like to be Brooklynn and Moonee, and Valeria and Jancey…
