William D. Foster
(1884–1940)
pioneering African-American film producer
The first Black director to make a film with an all-Black cast
He was the first African American to found a film production company, establishing the Foster Photoplay Company in Chicago in 1910.
Bill Foster started his career as sports writer for the Chicago Defender. Motivated by a desire to allow black people control our own images, He established and ran a film production company named The Foster Photoplay Company in Chicago in 1910. He was influenced by the black theater community and wanted to break the racial stereotyping of blacks in film. He was an actor and writer under the stage name Juli Jones, as well as an agent for numerous vaudeville stars.
His film The Railroad Porter, released in 1912, is credited as being the world’s first film with an entirely black cast and director. The film is also credited with being the first black newsreel, featuring images of a YMCA parade. Foster’s company produced four films that were silent shorts.Foster, produced and directed The Railroad Porter, which addressed the widespread stereotypes of blacks in film