Sean Baker’s latest film, "The Florida Project," takes place in a budget motel called The Magic Castle, not far from Disney World, in Kissimmee, Florida.

The story centers mainly on six-year-old Moonee, her mother Halley, and the other families who call the motel their home. Willem Dafoe plays the kind, fatherly manager of the motel, who has to run a business, occasionally evict tenants and also try to keep the families who live there safe.

Baker's previous film was the critically acclaimed “Tangerine,” which was released in 2015.

When I spoke with Sean Baker, I wanted to know what he learned through meeting people who are actually living like his characters in budget motels.

Click the play button above to hear the full conversation.