Jodie Foster: a golden star & a life in cinema
Discovered when she was still a child, American actress Jodie Foster has fascinated generations of audiences, whether in searingly intense dramas or terrifying thrillers. A two-time Oscar winner, today she is one of Hollywood’s most respected figures, an actress who can play anything and a demanding filmmaker whose work is both intimate and visionary. Ahead of her visit to the Marrakech International Film Festival, where a much-anticipated tribute evening was held in her honor, Jodie Foster sat down to answer our questions.
How did you react when you were told that the Marrakech International Film Festival wanted to honor you with its Golden Star in recognition of your entire career?
I was so excited to learn that Marrakech had selected me to receive the Golden Star. Film Festivals have been such an important part of my career. My mom used to take me to foreign film festivals in Los Angeles when I was little. She introduced me to obscure French, German, Italian, Japanese films that some were much too adult for my years. She wanted me to hear all the languages and appreciate world cinema. She was my film school. So nothing is more fun than being surrounded by film geeks from all over the globe.
What advice would you give to the young filmmakers attending the Festival?
Make sure you set an alarm clock so that you don’t miss a thing. There are so many fascinating artists, new ideas and buzzing energies at a film festival. Impossible to fit them all in. I always want to watch as many movies as possible. When you’re in line waiting for a show, ask everyone in the queue which films they’ve responded to and why. Try to see all different kinds of movies: shorts, docs, animation, comedies. You will return to your own work with a wider appreciation for storytelling.
Looking back through your career, can you pinpoint one single, defining moment that you truly cherish above all others, and why?
One of the greatest moments of my career was my very first day on the set of Little Man Tate, my directorial debut. Seeing the whole crew before me, eager to band together and work as hard as they could to be a part of this story. I loved more than my soul… Of course, we got caught in a torrential summer downpour, had to change all of our plans, move inside to a set that wasn’t ready with no air conditioning and 30 excited child actors ready to climb the roof. I’ve never been so exhausted and so excited at the same time.
What makes you say “yes” to a project?
I always try to read the script purely without too much information about the team. If I’m captivated by the read and devour it in one session, then I know I’m on the right track. Step two is, of course, learning about the director. Sitting down with them, watching all their films, asking them questions, presenting ideas. For me the director carries the full vision of the film and I am there to serve them. If we are each heading in opposite directions and don’t see eye to eye, you have to jump off right there.
Your latest film, Vie Privée (A Private Life), has been screened during the Festival. What was the biggest challenge for you on this project?
The biggest challenge of Vie Privée (A Private Life) was getting my French language skills up to the task of inhabiting a full character. I was scared! How would I find the spontaneity, the freedom to improvise, the confidence to forget that I might mess up at any moment? Luckily I flew to Paris three weeks before the shoot and didn’t speak any English the whole time. Full immersion is the only way to let your brain settle into the rhythms of a new you. You’ll find that I’m a very different person in French. More anxious, with a higher voice and eternally frustrated that I can’t express myself seamlessly. It makes Lilian Steiner exactly the obsessive mess that she is meant to be.
During your stay in Marrakech, what are you most looking forward to seeing or doing?
I’ve never been to North Africa although I have dreamed about the landscapes, the colors, the smells my whole life. My sister lived in Tunisia for a while and would regale us with stories of her trips to the desert, the sandy beaches, the beautiful markets. But I was never able to visit the area. Traveling to a new culture makes me feel alive and eager to learn. My friends have told me that the food is outstanding. I’m up for any adventure.
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