Why Richard Linklater Cast His Own Daughter In 'Boyhood'

Richard Linklater's new movie is called "Boyhood," but it follows the evolution of an entire family (not just its main character, Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane) in real time over the course of a dozen years.

One member of that family was played by Linklater's own daughter, Lorelei -- and she was very eager to be involved, the director told HuffPost Live on Friday.

"She really wanted that part, and for us it was a very natural thing to do; it was very fun every year to work with her in this way, you know, your own kid," he said. "She's pretty amazing in the film. I'm really proud of her -- she worked very hard, and it was really fun to see her have a 'brother.' She doesn't have a brother. And Ellar, at that time, didn't have a sister."

Linklater, who appeared with Coltrane, also discussed how the "parallel universe family" the team created served to highlight Mason's developing boyhood -- in other words, a young man's "emergence of self."

Watch the whole interview on HuffPost Live.