'The Florida Project' cast and director take a deeper dive into the immersive drama

If "The Florida Project," Sean Baker's immersive drama that weaves childhood adventure with the stark realities of people living on the margins of society, earns an Oscar nomination for best picture, it'd likely be the least-seen member of that group. (Since Netflix won't divulge the viewership numbers for "Mudbound," we'll never know for sure.)

But what it lacks in box office, "The Florida Project" makes up with viewers' passion for the film. "When I saw it, nobody wanted to leave after it was done," said South by Southwest Film Festival director Janet Pierson. "It's so engaging ... you don't want to leave and break the spell."

Why has it resonated with people like Pierson? We spoke to director Baker, who co-wrote the movie with Chris Bergoch, along with first-time actress Bria Vinaite and 7-year-old Brooklynn Prince, who play a mother and daughter making the best of dire