Martin Scorsese shares rare story about 12-year-old Jodie Foster’s 'authority' on 'Taxi Driver'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Filmmaker Martin Scorsese reflected on actress Jodie Foster's commanding presence on the set of 'Taxi Driver' at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, June 5, recalling often relying on the young actress despite her age.
Nearly 50 years after the film's release, The duo revisited their experience making the landmark movie during the 50th Anniversary Screening and Panel event, reflecting on memorable moments from the production and the lessons that shaped her career.
Martin Scorsese recalls Jodie Foster's confidence during 'Taxi Driver'
During the discussion, he recalled first meeting Foster when she visited him while he was working on 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' their first collaboration before 'Taxi Driver.' “Jodie, it's like so funny, because when I first met you, you came in a little office I had and just came saying hello for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,” he remembered.
The director noted that she displayed an unusual level of confidence and professionalism for someone so young. “She had more control on set and I kind of depended on her in a way. She had authority. I'm not kidding, an authority that was like, ‘Yeah, I'm gonna go there, good, I'm there,’” he said with a laugh."
He continued, “It was really quite, quite, quite supportive, put it that way, because it was all hard to shoot.”
Foster, meanwhile, explained that although she has “some memories” of making the film, she had already appeared in numerous productions as a child actor by that point. One memory that remained vivid involved Scorsese and Actor Robert De Niro attempting to explain a scene to her at an actual filming location.
“I remember there was a really funny moment seared in my memory,” she said, recalling how Scorsese tried to explain what she was supposed to do in the scene before breaking into laughter. De Niro then stepped in, insisting he would explain it, but he also began laughing.
She said the two men “just couldn't stop laughing” and seemed nervous because she was so young. Despite the challenging subject matter, she remembered the atmosphere positively. “It felt fun. It felt like a game and it felt important but also whimsical,” adding that she remembered Scorsese finding the film’s blood effects amusing.
Jodie Foster on learning from Robert De Niro and building career
Foster earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for playing Iris in 'Taxi Driver.' While De Niro received a Best Actor nomination, while the film was also nominated for Best Picture.
During the panel, she spoke about her admiration for the filmmaker's work before they collaborated. She recalled watching 'Mean Streets' with her mother as a child and immediately wanting to be involved in one of his films.
“She took me to Mean Streets and that was it. I just wanted to be a part of this,” Foster said. She added that she even attempted to appear as an extra in 'New York, New York,' but was unable to because she was under 16 and not permitted to work at night.
Foster also described a significant moment with De Niro while they were discussing the script. He introduced her to improvisation, an experience she described as “a light bulb” moment. The realization had such an impact that she rushed back to tell her mother. “Oh my God, I think I might want to be an actor. This is amazing,” she recalled saying.
Reflecting on her career and advice for filmmakers, she said she benefited from observing accomplished directors throughout her childhood. She described watching filmmakers such as Scorsese and Spike Lee closely, constantly questioning their creative decisions, “That really was my film school."
