Volume 1, Issue 3 |
| BEN FOSTER |
Seldom do we hear about a young 17 year old writing, producing, and directing feature films on his
own with no real help. Well, meet Ben Lee Foster, one of the brightest and most gifted future
filmmakers of our day.
IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into film?
BLF: Well, I’m from Delaware, but was born in Philadelphia (PA). My family recently moved to LA so I can
pursue my dream of filmmaking. What inspired me to become a filmmaker is the fact that, I can take my writing
and turn it into something visual that will impact other peoples’ lives through the art of film. Also, I’m a big fan of
Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and I like a lot of indie film directors as well.
IAE: Are you planning to attend a film school and if so, which one?
BLF: I’ve attended a lot of film camps the past few years and plan to attend the NY Film Academy here in LA.
IAE: How do you come up with ideas for film projects?
BLF: Pretty much I look around in my daily life and draw from those experiences. I’ll take an idea and
exaggerate it a little to enhance the story, but it’s still a story that is real. A lot of my projects are inspired by
regular life.
IAE: Who handles most of your business for you?
BLF: When I first started off, my parents handled most of my business because I was only 9 years old. But as I
started to get older and understand more, I took on more responsibility. I didn’t want people to think, “oh, this
kid is just pressing record on his camera, but his parents are doing all the work.” So as I got older, I just started
taking on more and more responsibility. Now I handle most of my business alone. I’m starting to bring more
people onto my team, like Casting Directors, DPs, ADs, Location Scouts, etc. But I still do a lot of things myself,
as well.
IAE: What’s your overall goal with the films you do?
BLF: Pretty much, my main focus is to inspire the youth to pursue their dreams and never give up. I just want
to teach young people that we can have clean, positive fun without doing all the negative things out there.
Because life is so much more than just being in the streets.
IAE: You recently were involved in one of Usher’s outreach efforts. What was it that you did with
Usher and how did that come about?
BLF: I got the opportunity to team up with a group of other young filmmakers through the ‘GOT NOISE’
program, to create the new music video for R&B star, Usher. Out of 5000 applicants from all over the world, I
was one of twenty talented and creative teens who were selected to be a part of the “Body By Milk, Got
Noise?” music video experience. We got the chance to work together and co-produce, scout locations, cast
talent, direct, work the cameras, and pretty much everything else on the set with just the guidance of a
supervisor. Working with Usher was amazing. He was a nice person, and I had fun talking with him. There were
two teams of 10 and my team won 1st place. We each won a Mac Book Pro with Final Cut Pro Studio, and
tickets to Usher’s concert.
IAE: I understand you’re hosting events to help your filmmaking cause?
BLF: I recently established my new entertainment company, Visual Poetry Entertainment, and we not only
make movies but we also host events. We have various skateboard teams and dance teams. Our events are
dress code enforced because I believe that the way you dress is a reflection of how you act a lot of times. So
people can’t come to our events wearing sports jerseys and things of that nature. At the events, we have
various music performances, clothing lines, and just clean, positive fun for the youth. We’re also interested in
having some film and music industry professionals show up at our events too.
IAE: How instrumental have your managers been in your career, and do you have an agent?
BLF: I have a great management team that keeps me motivated and productive. Since I’m underage,
everything has to go through my parents. But, I play a big part in handling a lot of things in my company as well.
IAE: Where would you like to see Ben Lee Foster in 5 years?
BLF: In the next 5 years, I want my entertainment company, Visual Poetry Ent., to take off really big. We shoot
movies, commercials, music videos, and we even manage recording artists. We also have a clothing line, as
well as the event planning division. So in 5 years I am looking forward to Visual Poetry Entertainment really
taking off and doing well by impacting the lives of many youth.
own with no real help. Well, meet Ben Lee Foster, one of the brightest and most gifted future
filmmakers of our day.
IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into film?
BLF: Well, I’m from Delaware, but was born in Philadelphia (PA). My family recently moved to LA so I can
pursue my dream of filmmaking. What inspired me to become a filmmaker is the fact that, I can take my writing
and turn it into something visual that will impact other peoples’ lives through the art of film. Also, I’m a big fan of
Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and I like a lot of indie film directors as well.
IAE: Are you planning to attend a film school and if so, which one?
BLF: I’ve attended a lot of film camps the past few years and plan to attend the NY Film Academy here in LA.
IAE: How do you come up with ideas for film projects?
BLF: Pretty much I look around in my daily life and draw from those experiences. I’ll take an idea and
exaggerate it a little to enhance the story, but it’s still a story that is real. A lot of my projects are inspired by
regular life.
IAE: Who handles most of your business for you?
BLF: When I first started off, my parents handled most of my business because I was only 9 years old. But as I
started to get older and understand more, I took on more responsibility. I didn’t want people to think, “oh, this
kid is just pressing record on his camera, but his parents are doing all the work.” So as I got older, I just started
taking on more and more responsibility. Now I handle most of my business alone. I’m starting to bring more
people onto my team, like Casting Directors, DPs, ADs, Location Scouts, etc. But I still do a lot of things myself,
as well.
IAE: What’s your overall goal with the films you do?
BLF: Pretty much, my main focus is to inspire the youth to pursue their dreams and never give up. I just want
to teach young people that we can have clean, positive fun without doing all the negative things out there.
Because life is so much more than just being in the streets.
IAE: You recently were involved in one of Usher’s outreach efforts. What was it that you did with
Usher and how did that come about?
BLF: I got the opportunity to team up with a group of other young filmmakers through the ‘GOT NOISE’
program, to create the new music video for R&B star, Usher. Out of 5000 applicants from all over the world, I
was one of twenty talented and creative teens who were selected to be a part of the “Body By Milk, Got
Noise?” music video experience. We got the chance to work together and co-produce, scout locations, cast
talent, direct, work the cameras, and pretty much everything else on the set with just the guidance of a
supervisor. Working with Usher was amazing. He was a nice person, and I had fun talking with him. There were
two teams of 10 and my team won 1st place. We each won a Mac Book Pro with Final Cut Pro Studio, and
tickets to Usher’s concert.
IAE: I understand you’re hosting events to help your filmmaking cause?
BLF: I recently established my new entertainment company, Visual Poetry Entertainment, and we not only
make movies but we also host events. We have various skateboard teams and dance teams. Our events are
dress code enforced because I believe that the way you dress is a reflection of how you act a lot of times. So
people can’t come to our events wearing sports jerseys and things of that nature. At the events, we have
various music performances, clothing lines, and just clean, positive fun for the youth. We’re also interested in
having some film and music industry professionals show up at our events too.
IAE: How instrumental have your managers been in your career, and do you have an agent?
BLF: I have a great management team that keeps me motivated and productive. Since I’m underage,
everything has to go through my parents. But, I play a big part in handling a lot of things in my company as well.
IAE: Where would you like to see Ben Lee Foster in 5 years?
BLF: In the next 5 years, I want my entertainment company, Visual Poetry Ent., to take off really big. We shoot
movies, commercials, music videos, and we even manage recording artists. We also have a clothing line, as
well as the event planning division. So in 5 years I am looking forward to Visual Poetry Entertainment really
taking off and doing well by impacting the lives of many youth.
| Ben Lee Foster - The Prodigy Film Director |
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