she was holding her own with willem defoe. wasn't going to make this film as i found a -- this film unless i found the present day spanky mcfarland. we were going to hold off on production until i could find this little girl. she was local. orlando-based. i was very particular about that. i wanted all the kids to be from the local area. a local casting company by the name of "crowd shot" had her in their database and suggested we see her, and she walked into the room and within seconds won us over. she had those qualities that spanky had. the energy and wit and cuteness, the little puffy cheeks, but we had no idea she had not a that she was going to be able to deliver incredibly emotional performances as well. without giving away too many spoilers, she really has to go place, a really emotional place, and she did that. ,he understood her character the predicament, and the circumstances -- charlie: she is your your protagonist. sean: yes. i put her in the same camp as jodie foster and mickey rooney, a child actor who was born t