Interview with Award Winning Filmmaker Michael Foster
UFN: I would like to first start off thanking you for allowing us to tap into your creative mind even if for only a moment. You’re the owner of The Michael Foster Experience, and most known for the award-winning short film “Evelyn Black” how did you get involved in film making?
MF: Well first I’d like to say thank you for the opportunity, I love what Urban Fiction News represents. We need more outlets like this for writers and other creative people alike. I got involved in film making as a necessity to further express my deepest creative thoughts & ideas. I’ve been writing over twenty years whether it was in the form of songs, poems, or short stories. About ten years ago I got into TV Production and learned the details of that realm. So for me film making was the marriage of my writing experience with my learned production experience. I decided to go to film school to really learn film theory and everything I could about making films and from there I walked into my destiny.
UFN: You have a hand in all-things film making which is the best of both worlds so to speak. You get to create and then see your creation come to life on screen. What would you say is the most rewarding from your literary journey?
MF: The most rewarding thing for me is the connection with the audience. Whether it was how a poem made someone feel, people relating to the lyrics in my songs, or the emotion and thoughts evoked by my films. I love sharing my thoughts, words, and imagination with the world, and for me to see that they appreciate something that has come from the depths of my soul is very rewarding.
UFN: Many writers never get to see their work published or materialize so winning an award would definitely be the icing on the cake. What was it like to receive the award for your hard work on “Evelyn Black”?
MF: Receiving an award for “Evelyn Black” was validating. It affirmed that I could create an interesting character and story line, write an intriguing screenplay, and direct a film that people across the world would love.
UFN: Does your experience only include film making or have you also tried your hand in smaller projects as well?
MF: Well from 2000-2010 I focused on my craft as a Hip Hop recording artist under the moniker “Lyfelong”. I released a number of mixtapes, albums, and songs independently. In 2005 I launched my locally broadcast TV show “Swagger TV” as a means to be able to promote my music. “Swagger TV” ended up taking on a life of it’s own and became bigger than anything I’d ever done musically. In 2008 “Swagger TV” made the transition from TV show to the world’s first online “Urban Media Network”. We’d interview the largest artists in the music industry and cover other industry events and stream them live on our website. At that time no one else in the industry was doing anything like that.
UFN: What is next for The Michael Foster Experience? What can fans of your work look forward to in the upcoming year or two?
MF: Well next for “The Experience” is another great film festival run in 2014. I have a number of films on the circuit this year like “The Addiction”, “When Tables Turn”, and “Subconscious Whispers”. I’m working on producing/directing my first feature film titled “Position of Power”. I’ve already written numerous drafts of the script and feel it’s my best work to date as a writer. Anyone that’s a fan of my work will absolutely fall in love with it.
UFN: Where can followers learn more about you and your work or reach out to you?
MF: My supporters can learn more about me and my work at TheMichaelFosterExperience.com and can reach out to me via Twitter or Facebook at Twitter.com/Lyfelong or Facebook.com/TheMichaelFosterExperience. They can also view some of my work at vimeo.com/TheMichaelFoster.
Urban Fiction News: Thanks a million for allowing Urban Fiction News to interview you. We appreciate your creativity and it’s always nice to see an African American man making waves in the literary world whether in writing or on the big screen.
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