The Florida Project

In Sean Bakers award-winning 2017 film The Florida Project, a young girl, her single mother, and her friends live in rundown motels near Disney World, the childrens summer fun contrasting with the grim conditions around them. In this book, J. J. Murphy delves deep into the movies development and filming while also examining it within the wider context of Bakers career.

Using production documents, different versions of the screenplay, and interviews with principal members of the production team, Murphy traces the evolution of The Florida Project from initial idea through its various stages of production. He highlights Bakers unconventional strategies in making a film about a marginalized subculture, including alternative scripting, guerrilla-like filmmaking, improvisation, and the unorthodox casting of local and first-time actors. Murphy also explores how Bakers impromptu style sometimes rankled crew members and caused a major crisis on set, revealing the difficulties indie filmmakers can face when working with professional crews on larger films. A lively analysis of this critically acclaimed movie, its director, and its production, The Florida Project also betters our understanding of contemporary independent cinema as a whole.