Meet Bonnie Foster | Film Director and Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bonnie Foster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bonnie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I finally decided that an artistic career was the one that fit best with my sense of purpose. I process my experiences through writing and film, and for that reason it makes me fulfilled.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think an important skill of a good director lies partially in surrounding ourselves with a crew that we trust — and a crew that trusts us — so that we can be on the same page about the vision of the film.

One of the biggest challenges for developing directors can be knowing when to accept advice and when to stick to your guns. Once production starts, everyone has an opinion. There are a million ideas coming your way that may or may not serve the original vision. Ego can get in the way on productions, so it is important to feel safe with the people around you, to respect their opinions, and to be able to filter all the generous ideas people offer up through the lens of “what serves the vision and story of the film.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The beach is definitely a favorite for me. I tend to prefer Paradise Cove beach in Malibu because the waves are not as aggressive for swimming.

Griffith Park is another regular haunt, either on one of the more secret trails near my house in Beachwood Canyon, or at the main entrance on Fern Dell where the hike can be punctuated by a coffee at Trails Cafe.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Alliance of Women Directors has been a wonderful support as an organization. The Works in Progress Program allows members to share works and get feedback from their peers, and it has been so helpful in shaping a project we are about to release: a female-driven thriller called Murder in Monte Nido. The “Directing the Actor Lab” – a free training fellowship I was selected for along with 12 other directors last year – has also been a great way to meet fellow female directors. Jennifer Warren, the founder of the AWD, has been so generous in dedicating herself to building a supportive community of women filmmakers.

Website: www.bonniefoster.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnievaughanfoster/?hl=en

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.foster.376

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyE8lLrr9PUjAVxSqgJb2yw