Inspired by the true story of director/writer David M. Rosenthal, Janie Jones follows rocker Ethan Brand (Alessandro Nivola), whose former flame (Elisabeth Shue) drops a 13-year-old (Abigail Breslin) in his lap, with the surprise news that she is his daughter. Far from knowing how to be a father, Ethan takes Janie on the road, but his self-destructive spiral threatens both the group’s future and any chance at a relationship with his own child. Desperate to revive his failing career, Ethan learns of Janie’s own musical talent, and their bond over that slowly leads him down the path to redemption.

At the film’s press day, actress Abigail Breslin spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about wanting to play this character because of how different she was, the challenge of playing someone so vulnerable who still remains so optimistic, how awesome it was to work with co-star Alessandro Nivola, the real-life uses of being able to cry on cue, and how the musical aspect of the film inspired her to start her own band with her best friend. She also talked about voicing a bird for the animated feature Zambezia, working with Sarah Jessica Parker in New Year’s Eve, recently finishing the dark true story The Class Project about sisters who murder their mother, and that she hopes to get started on Virgin Mary soon. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

We have a couple quick casting stories for you this afternoon.  First up, Abigail Breslin has signed on to star in the dark indie drama The Class Project.  Per Variety, “Story follows two sisters who, tired of their mother’s alcoholism and her abusive boyfriends, take matters into their own hands and plot to kill her.”  I want to make fun of that logline, but it actually sounds like an intriguing premise and a nice development for the Little Miss Sunshine star.  Stan Brooks will direct from a script by Fabrizio Filippo and Adam Till.  Shooting begins later this month.

Breslin recently did some voice acting for Gore Verbinski’s Rango and she’ll next be seen in Gerry Marshall’s massive romantic comedy New Year’s Eve.  Hit the jump for casting news on the Romeo & Juliet spinoff/re-imagining, Rosaline.