Latest News

After Shogun: What’s Next From Japan?

From video games such as Persona 5 to novels written by Haruki Murakami, a rich reservoir of anime, manga, and video game content awaits proper adaptation. As we move into the latter half of the [...]

Featured on Explore Art Magazine

Jaime and I were recently featured artists in the esteemed Explore Art Magazine with Renee Rose regarding our latest art show. The interview was a hoot. Read Renee's commentary below and be sure to [...]

Fragile Tension

fragile tension A new series of paintings by Naperville artists Jaime and Michael Foster were on display at Water Street Studios in Batavia throughout the month of March in 2024. The name of this [...]

Convenience Story Q&A with March Schilling

Here is a post-film Q&A with Mark Schilling, moderated by Chicago-based writer Michael Foster. Special thanks to Sophia Wong Boccio. Mark Schilling (born 1949)[1] is an American film critic, journalist, translator, [...]

Convenience Story Q&A on March 19th

Coming up on March 19th, I'll be moderating a Q&A session with the renowned film critic Mark Schilling about the film based on his excellent short story. This is part of the Japanese Showcase [...]

Japanese Showcase at 2022’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema

This weekend, there were four outstanding films presented for the Japanese Showcase at 2022's Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Season 15. It was a marvelous time, and there are many more films from South Korea, Taiwan, [...]

New Art Show at Sweetwaters Cafe

A large collection of my recent paintings will be featured for three months at Sweetwater's Cafe in Downtown Naperville starting on June 14th, 2022. If you happen to be [...]

Four Shorts About Dogs… and 1920s Chicago

A series of two-minute films about a good cop and his two dogs planning to take down Johnny the Matchstick Man in 1920s Chicago. This is what happens when his wife leaves to dog [...]

I Am a Ghost Movie Poster Project

Here's something very exciting I finally feel like I can share! I was commissioned to illustrate a movie poster for an upcoming film called ‘I Am a Ghost,” developed by Tetsuki Ijichi for Rain [...]

Modern Japanese Culture for Beginners

You can read the original article here on the Ikigai Connections website... When Kasia asked me to write for Ikigai Connections, specifically for the Senpai Success Stories, I felt humbled and honored by [...]

Watch Michael on The Polymath Podcast with Dustin Miller

Michael was featured as a guest the on the season three opener of the Polymath Podcast with Dustin Miller. They talk about the book "Manifestos, Reinventions and Declarations," the constant struggle to find inspiration, and [...]

Life in Purgatory: A Short Film During Covid

This was really just supposed to be a two minute clip for the The Roger Corman Quarantine Film Festival but it turned into this whole thing. We shot it over a weekend, edited and [...]

news and articles

Romancing Osaka: From the Japan Expert Insights Podcast

I was invited to speak at "Japan Expert Insights" by the renowned Maya Matsuoka and Tim Sullivan about a romantic comedy I wrote set in the city of Osaka, a film I'm currently working on with the fabulous Doc Kane. Honestly, I don't know if I'm an expert or not, but [...]

Japanese Showcase at 2022’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema

This weekend, there were four outstanding films presented for the Japanese Showcase at 2022's Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Season 15. It was a marvelous time, and there are many more films from South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and many other locations showing in the coming weeks. Highly recommended. Special shout out to [...]

New Art Show at Sweetwaters Cafe

A large collection of my recent paintings will be featured for three months at Sweetwater's Cafe in Downtown Naperville starting on June 14th, 2022. If you happen to be in the area, please stop in! Special thanks go out to the Naperville Art League for making [...]

Four Shorts About Dogs… and 1920s Chicago

A series of two-minute films about a good cop and his two dogs planning to take down Johnny the Matchstick Man in 1920s Chicago. This is what happens when his wife leaves to dog sit for a week and he's left to his own devices... Done as a fun little side [...]

The Future of Cinema: An Event for Blink Community Tokyo

Here's a Quick Overview The Rundown: 1) Digital technology makes it virtually impossible to compete by simply limiting access to content. That means the only way to be competitive in today’s marketplace is to have the most high-quality content available that people are willing [...]

For Sale: Michael’s Digital Illustration Postcards (Set of 12)

We have the first edition of Digital Illustration 4.72" x 4.72" postcards now for sale. 18-19pt paper thickness 4.72" x 4.72" in size matte finish They come in sets of 12 for $25 (plus $5 for shipping). There are only 25 more sets still available for this first round. Be sure [...]

From Chicago to Osaka [シカゴから大阪へ]: The Motion Picture

In the spirit of award-winning indie romantic comedy/dramas from the early 2000's, From Chicago to Osaka is a screenplay written for the modern era. With fast-paced ping pong comedic dialogue in both English and Japanese, From Chicago to Osaka is the quintessential date movie for adults looking for something smart, sophisticated, [...]

I Am a Ghost Movie Poster Project

Here's something very exciting I finally feel like I can share! I was commissioned to illustrate a movie poster for an upcoming film called ‘I Am a Ghost,” developed by Tetsuki Ijichi for Rain Trail Pictures. A special thanks goes out to Tetsuki Ijichi for bringing me on board. Learn more [...]

Modern Japanese Culture for Beginners

You can read the original article here on the Ikigai Connections website... When Kasia asked me to write for Ikigai Connections, specifically for the Senpai Success Stories, I felt humbled and honored by the request. I can’t help but feel that my story doesn’t technically qualify as a true success [...]

Watch Michael on The Polymath Podcast with Dustin Miller

Michael was featured as a guest the on the season three opener of the Polymath Podcast with Dustin Miller. They talk about the book "Manifestos, Reinventions and Declarations," the constant struggle to find inspiration, and allowing yourself to have bad days. Take a listen! "The Desk is the Yoga Mat" "Manifestos, Reinventions [...]

videos

Chicago Comic Con : Reinventing Pop Culture as a Visual Language

Some say the American Empire is folding, others say it is just beginning. Regardless of your position, one cannot deny the cultural impact America currently has upon the world. With the advent of mass media in the 20th century, the stage has been set for a new cultural revolution led by the United States. Presented here is the first 20 minutes of the lecture.

PechaKucha 20×20: Reinventing Perceived Value, Space, and Time Through Modern Art

From prehistoric cave paintings to Jackson Pollack, art emotionally defines a society. Sadly, we tend to devalue art because it does not directly fulfill basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. Artist and designer Michael Foster discusses how viewing modern art will confront someone with socially acquired patterns of feelings, thoughts, and actions—in a fairly safe environment. And he will demonstrate the secrets and motivations behind his own work.


The Reinvention Project: Articles and Essays on Technology

For several years, Michael Foster and Russell C. Smith wrote for The Huffington Post and Psychology Today about the rapid pace of technology and society. Living in the Age of Reinvention is a project aimed at the minds and hearts of everyone who is determined as never before to change their lives and become a participant in the new world of reinvention, The Reinvention Project incorporates stories, speculations and theories on current world events, twentieth and twenty-first century mass media, current social media and business trends, ancient cultures and myths, the Singularity, art and culture, discoveries in particle physics, and studies in human psychology and how we interact with new technology and the web. You can view the entire body of work on this website.