4 minute read
From Backstage to Onstage
GSW alumnus books speaking roles in three upcoming Hollywood productions
By Sunni Zemblowski
The road to success can be long and winding, and it can lead you anywhere. For Jason R.A. Foster, his road to success led him to New Orleans and speaking roles in three upcoming Hollywood productions.
Foster graduated from Georgia Southwestern in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in dramatic arts in communication with a minor in marketing. While at GSW, Foster served as the director of The Hurricane Watch and worked a summer internship at WALB, in Albany, Ga.
After graduating, Foster considered graduate school, but instead followed an opportunity to work the set of USA Network’s “White Collar” in New York as a production assistant. Foster only worked on the set for about six months, but he learned a lot, including where he wanted his road to continue.
“My time up there was short but the things that I learned from being on set, talking to the different directors, seeing how prepared the actors and crew were everyday was a part of my decision to forgo grad school,” he said. “Working on ‘White Collar’ really was the springboard that started me on the independent track.”
In 2011, Foster, David Bear, and three other colleagues started a film production company in New Orleans called FosterBear Films. FosterBear Films shoots music videos, short narrative and documentary films, commercials and promos. Projects include the short documentary “A Conversation with John O’Neal.” O’Neal co-founded the Free Southern Theater and Junebug Productions.
“Over the years we’ve evolved into more of a collective with David and I being the constants,” explained Foster. “There’s a strong and generous independent film community here in New Orleans so we’re always crossing paths, working on each other’s projects, borrowing equipment, etc.”
In addition to creating FosterBear Films, Foster was breaking into professional acting through various extra roles. His first break was a Microsoft/Bing commercial and was sort of unintentional. A friend was auditioning for the role and the agency wanted people who were actually friends to come in and audition together.
“I was just going there to help my friend out so I didn’t care if I got the role or not, until I got a callback and went in again - after that, I was all about it. It was two days after the callback that I got the call from one of the agents telling me that I booked the role,” Foster remarked. “I really snuck in through the back door with the whole acting thing.”
Directing and Consulting: Foster consults with his collaborators behind the scenes of an unreleased short film, “Justin and Casper.”
Since the Bing commercial, Foster has had numerous roles as an extra. In 2013, Foster landed his first speaking role on the TV series, “Suit Up.” Most recently, Foster has booked speaking roles in three upcoming productions: “Hot Tub Time Machine 2,” “22 Jump St.,” and “Get Hard.”
In “Get Hard,” which is starring Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell, Foster plays an employee at Hart’s car wash. According to Foster, most of the dialogue he has with Hart’s character is improvised, leading it to be his most memorable moment on set.
“I would get a prompt from the director and I would go from there. I got a few laughs out of Kevin and it was like I won the lotto when that happened,” said Foster. “Seeing Will Ferrell work was a nice treat. I’ve been a fan of his since SNL (Saturday Night Live), so watching him do his thing was a delight.”
Working with these big stars has not changed Foster, however, and he is still humble about his experiences and is still passionate about his life in New Orleans.
Behind the Scenes: On the set of FosterBear’s production of “Brighton Beach,” Foster gives directions to the actors.
“The acting gigs are terrific but FosterBear is my baby,” said Foster. “We’ve truly built something out of nothing and watching this company grow and being able to create and collaborate with my friends and peers has been great.”
Foster attributes much of his success to his education at GSW. “I’d like to thank the professors in the Theatre and Communication department for giving me a nice foundation to build on and giving me the freedom to try my own things,” he said. “I learned various acting techniques at GSW… I still call on them when going in for auditions.”
FosterBear Films produces short documentaries, music videos and more, including:
“We Deserve Better” A documentary about the discrimination of the LGBT community in New Orleans by the New Orleans Police Department, made in conjunction with BreakOUT! The film is now mandatory viewing for new NOPD police officers.
“Rethink: Restorative Justice” A documentary for ‘Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools,’ an organization that advocates for youth-led systemic changes in the education system.
For more information, visit fosterbearfilms.com.
