Passion + Purpose: “MFCool Productions heads to Hollywood”

If you have ever been to any Human Jukebox band event, major concert, or live performing student event on campus and seen a young guy filming the crowd, event performances, or taking pictures standing at about four feet, 11 inches, then it is possible that you were staring right at Michael J. Foster and did not know how bright his future would become.
Baton Rouge, LA native and current Southern University A&M College Music Education sophomore student, Michael J. Foster, has been selected as one of the top candidates chosen for the 2018 Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), HBCU in LA internship program which was formed just last year in 2017.
Michael Foster has been chosen as the first Motion Picture Association of America Southern University Scholar, a program created in partnership with the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program.
In fact, Foster will head to Los Angeles, California this summer to participate in the eight week internship program where he will work behind the scenes, along with the other 20 out of 2,000 applicants that were simultaneously chosen to work closely with Paramount Pictures Corporation, a national film production company.
After speaking to the company Paramount Pictures for the past few months, through extensive interviews showing interest, as well as putting in the major ground work on Southern University’s campus for years by building his signature brand, he has secured this opportunity all while still giving back to others.
According to Britannica.com, “Paramount Pictures Corporation, one of the first and most successful of the Hollywood film studios.” SU has certainly prepared Foster for the next level in his creative journey.
Recently, Foster was surprised with the honor during a special news conference at the A. W. Mumford Stadium Fieldhouse on April 8th, where his parents were in attendance along with university President, Dr. Ray Belton, local news media sources from Louisiana, and media executives from Paramount Pictures were in attendance.
When asked what his future plans include, Michael stated, “My goal is to help younger creatives to grow.”
The videographer, cinematographer, photographer, music recording engineer and overall multi talented student, Michael Foster, is a McKinley Senior High School graduate, and a snare drum player in the esteemed SU Human Jukebox marching band; someone who is always volunteering in the community in places such as local churches around the community.
Foster gained most of his inspiration for starting his own media production company after being on set of the movie Mama, I Want to Sing, a film starring Ciara, Lynn Whitfield, and Patti Labelle in which he played one of the supporting characters that was shot in Baton Rouge, LA and New York City at the young ages of eight and eleven years old.
He officially birthed his brand during his significant transition from middle to high school, around the age of 15 years old.
Michael then began to spark the interest of the school administrators, students, and teachers during his early high school years at McKinley Senior High School, leaving a legacy and newly formed media program on campus. “I wanted to make an impact at McKinley, my first major investment really hurt me, it was when I spent like $600 on a T3i camera and other equipment like a tripod and stuff, started doing videos, covering events, and promos for school related events, getting people who had the same interest,” expressed Foster.
The passion and persistence are two things that someone will notice after just a brief conversation with Michael.
“Oftentimes being told no, or that you aren’t old enough, is what made me want to start doing my own thing early along.” Foster describes how he started his brand MFCool Productions early along in his career.
Mr. Jabari and Eric Johnson are former Human Jukebox band members and Southern alumni that work closely with Foster, and are two of the people that have pushed him in the right direction after putting him in contact with a few sources to help further his career.
“Now that I’m seeing all these different opportunities I’m not going to stop there, I will keep applying as things come my way,” stated Foster.
He is a talented student that will continue to push the envelope for creatives, sparking interests, and leading the next generation of millennials towards empowerment and success as a leader of the new school.
Some of his influences include director Spike Lee and music producer Metro Boomin to name a few. Both of Michael’s parents are Southern University graduates as well as musicians. His father also named Michael Foster is a well-respected local musician who curates the live performance known as the Michael Foster Project which travels around the globe.
Foster volunteers and works with a lot of on campus entities such as the Jaguar Yearbook and Career Services department, helping to create content for the student body and alumni members at large.
“Michael Foster is a beacon of hope for SU creatives – as part of the 2017-2018 yearbook’s Visionary Team – I am extremely proud of him. Michael has a gift and his gift is making room for him,” expressed award-winning photographer, and 2017-2018 Editor-in-Chief of the Resurgence: Jaguar Yearbook, Mr. Don M. Green.
You can find out more information about MFCool Productions by visiting Michael’s website mfcoolproductions.com or stay updated on his journey through social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter by following @mfcoolproductions where he posts visual work created him or one of his interns.